All eyes on LA

The countdown to the CrossFit Games begins.Only the big show remains.

After more than 30 sectional events and 12 regionals, the field is set for the 2010 CrossFit Games, where the fittest athletes on the planet will battle it out July 16-18 at the Home Depot Center.

In the fourth edition of the Games, legendary past champions Mikko Salo (09 Champion) and Jason Khalipa (08 Champion) will resume their battle. They are joined by veterans Rob Orlando (first in Northeast), Blair Morrison (first in Europe), Chris Spealler (first in Northwest) and Peter Egyed (first in Southwest) as well as new firebreathers Dan Rogers (first in Canada) and Rich Froning Jr. (first in Southeast). All will be looking to claim the title, "World’s Fittest Man."

2009 champion Tanya Wagner is competing in the Affiliate Cup and Charity Vale (second overall in 2009) is expecting her fourth child. This leaves Carey Kepler and Kristan Clever as the top returning athletes. They tied in points for third with Kepler standing on the podium due to tie break rules. Past contenders Christy Phillips (first in central east), Annie Thorisdottir (first in Europe), Heather Bergeron (first in Northeast) and Rebecca Voigt (first in Southwest) cannot be dismissed, but they’ll also need to beat the likes of Rebecca Eastwell (first in Australia), Alicia Connors (first in Canada) and Candace Ruiz (first in South Central) if they want to reach the podium in 2010.

Never before has it been so difficult to get to the Games, and the list of athletes who didn’t qualify is littered with a host of CrossFit stars (Josh Everett, Pat Barber, Ricky Frausto, Jeremy Thiel, Dave Lipson, David Millar, Stacey Kroon, Cyndi Freiling, Lauren Erwin, Kim Ball, Glory Dawson). In 2007 and 2008, competitors only had to register and show up at The Ranch in Aromas, Calif. In 2009, regional competitions decided the field. In 2010, each competitor has proven his or her skill beyond doubt either by winning the CrossFit Games, finishing in the top five last year or fighting through a savage qualification process that included both sectional and regional bottlenecks.

As the elite make their last preparations for the final showdown, the rest of the CrossFit world reflects on amazing qualification events, marvels at the prowess of the top athletes and counts down to July 16. Favorites are being chosen and dark horses identified. Stars of the past shine alongside new heroes. Excitement grows as the global community awaits the announcement of the WODs, the live Web broadcast and the “3, 2, 1… go!” that will kick off the Games.

Let the Games begin!