[2] Qualification events called the Regionals were introduced this year to cope with the increasing number of athletes who wanted to participate in the Games.

150 athletes qualified for the individual events, while nearly 100 teams participated in the Affiliate Cup which required no qualification.

[3] The Affiliate Cup became an official team competition this year with its own separate team-based events.

[4] Cuts in the number of athletes in the Games were introduced this year to reduce the field during the course of the competition.

[9] This year there was also a "last chance online qualifier" – athletes who missed the Regionals can submit their videoed workouts via email.

During the run, the previous year's champion Jason Khalipa blacked out, collapsing a few times, but recovered enough to complete the race third from last.

The event consisted of 15 cleans, 30 toes-to-bar, 30 box jumps, 15 muscle-ups, 30 dumbbell push press, 30 double-unders, 15 thrusters, 30 pull-ups, 30 burpees, and 300-foot walking lunges with a barbell plate held overhead.

Then each competitor had to simultaneously complete a 300 meter row on a Concept-2 rowing machine, 30 twenty-four inch box jumps, 30 kettlebell swings, and 30 dumbbell push press or push jerks with one competitor at each station at a time.

A combined chipper style workout consisting of 75 squat cleans, 150 toes-to-bar, 150 box jumps, 75 thrusters, 35 muscle-ups, 150 burpees, 150 double-unders, and 300-foot walking lunges with a 35lb.