MADISON, Wis. — The CrossFit Games are back in Wisconsin after a hiatus in 2020. 

Thousands of people are visiting Madison as the NOBULL CrossFit Games take over the Alliant Energy Center complex. 

It’s been two years since the Games were in Madison, as the event was mostly virtual in 2020 and a very small number of athletes competing in California. 

This time around, the games are pretty much back to normal. The competitions drew loud cheers from the spectators, the crowd was big and the exhibition halls were filled with vendors. Athletes from dozens of countries are in town. 

Cooper Wise and MaryKay Dreisilker are from Denver, competing together on a team. It’s their first time at the CrossFit Games, and it was worth the wait. 

“It makes it even more special,” Wise said. “I mean one, to be at the CrossFit Games in general. But two, to be here after two years off, just being surrounded by athletes from all over the world, is pretty special.” 

“The team that I’m on, this is all our first times here at the games, so it’s pretty special,” Dreisilker said. “And by pretty, I mean incredibly special. It’s an amazing feeling. Especially after last year, just seeing everyone out here, in person competing, it’s nothing like I’ve experienced before.”

While there are thousands of people gathered for the games this week, every single one of them had to follow the COVID-19 protocol. Athletes, spectators, and even our news crew had to either be tested on-site before going in and get a negative result, or register their vaccination card. 

The CrossFit Games run through Sunday, August 1.