Get ready to take to the field at the 2026 Italian Showdown by measuring your fitness level with three tests that simulate the competition workouts
When it comes to deciding which ability division to compete in, many athletes are hesitant because different competitions often have different criteria: the categories may have different names (for example, Beginner or Experience) and the requirements for entry may also vary (for example, ranking in other competitions).
The Italian Showdown has decided to align its standards with the model adopted by CrossFit: starting from the highest level, athletes considered Elite are those who advance to the Semifinals. These athletes have passed through the Open and Quarterfinal selection stages, demonstrating not only mastery of all the skills but also the ability to deliver performances that place them among the best in the world.
Who are the Elite?
Clearly, this is an exceptional category of athletes, certainly far above those who are normally able to complete the daily workouts in class or who achieve success in local competitions. The competitive journey of Elite athletes is naturally geared toward the CrossFit Games before any other local competition; so, we don’t design our competition with them in mind.
For the same reason, the Italian Showdown is scheduled on the CrossFit competitive season calendar precisely at the same time as the European Semifinals, offering an alternative stage to the vast majority of athletes who don’t reach the Elite level but who wish to test themselves against their peers in a true international competition alongside the entire CrossFit community.
Rx, Intermediate and Beginner
Our competition format is aimed at “normal” people who train to stay fit. It’s always been designed to give as many enthusiasts as possible the opportunity to compete live without qualification. Therefore, the Italian Showdown has chosen to adopt the three categories of CrossFit’s workout of the day: Rx, Intermediate and Beginner.
The Rx division is for athletes who consistently perform workouts without scaling loads or skills and who already have experience at local competitions. For those who occasionally scale workouts because they haven’t fully mastered all the skills or the heaviest loads, there’s the Intermediate division. Finally, the Beginner division is for those just starting out on their competitive journey.
Test your level
The Italian Showdown organization does not impose any restrictions on athletes’ choice of division; therefore, everyone is free to register in the division they feel best suits their abilities, based on the requirements described in the How to Compete section of the official website and in the Rulebook, which outline the profile of the target athlete for each division.
Naturally, an honest and informed choice of the division that best suits your ability level is essential to fully enjoy the competition experience and compete on equal terms with all the other athletes. Therefore, we suggest completing three tests that simulate the loads and modalities of the workouts programmed for the 2026 Italian Showdown.