The British Functional Fitness Federation (BF3) was excited to launch the 2024 season with a fresh start for functional fitness in the UK! With a new two-tier qualification system in place, we offered athletes across all age divisions the opportunity to earn a coveted spot on TEAM UK and represent our nation at the prestigious iF3 Super Worlds, taking place in Budapest, Hungary, from 13th-15th December 2024.
A Comeback Story: Rebuilding After COVID
As the UK’s only official governing body for functional fitness, BF3 has been committed to growing and promoting the sport since 2016. As an affiliate to the International Functional Fitness Federation (iF3), we’ve helped build a global community of over 65 National Federations. Like many other volunteer-based organisations, the COVID-19 pandemic hit us hard, and we lost momentum between 2020 and 2022.
But 2023 brought a resurgence! In just three short months, we assembled TEAM UK (MMFF) and sent them to the iF3 World Championships in Oslo, Norway1. Competing on such short notice, our team of four – Philroy Peters, Mitch Adams, Kirstin Walker, and Alexa Ferguson – delivered an outstanding performance. Though they narrowly missed the podium, they dominated the bodyweight workout, securing a remarkable event win and a trophy!
British Functional Fitness Championships: A Gateway for All
Building on the success of 2023, we were excited to kick off the British Functional Fitness Championships (BFFC) 20243. This event had two key objectives:
- Select the elite athletes who will advance to National Trials and ultimately represent the UK internationally.
- Engage the wider community by offering an accessible competition for everyone, regardless of skill level.
To achieve these goals, we’ve developed a scalable event format that tests both the elite and everyday athletes. We chose Hyper Medley format, which is a condensed competition format regulated by iF32. Athletes performed several tests in a short timeframe, focusing on Strength, Skill, and Endurance. This format allowed for both challenging workouts and a more manageable schedule for athletes, coaches and gym owners4.
Top performers across all divisions earned invites to National Trials, and we also introduced a Wild Card system to accommodate athletes returning from injury or those balancing their participation in other events like the CrossFit Games.
National Trials 2024: The Ultimate Selection
The National Trials took place over the weekend of October 5-6, 2024, at the stunning Forge Functional Fitness venue. We invited 60 of the UK’s best athletes to compete for their spot on TEAM UK. This year’s trials featured the Hyper Medley format, testing athletes in Endurance, Strength, Skill, and Power5.
The atmosphere was electric, blending high stakes with an exciting yet supportive environment. Athletes were assessed not only on their performance during the event but also on how they measured up against national and international benchmarks. Other factors, such as coach feedback and alignment with BF3’s core values, also played a role in team selection.
The Road Ahead: Representing TEAM UK at iF3 Super Worlds
Following the trials, we announced Team UK, with the chosen athletes now preparing to take the global stage at the iF3 Super Worlds in Budapest. This unique year combines all divisions in one monumental event, making it a special moment in functional fitness history.
We’re incredibly proud of the athletes who have fought for their spot and the community that has supported us along the way. Whether you're an elite competitor or a passionate fan, there are plenty of ways to get involved with BF3 and contribute to the growth of functional fitness in the UK.
If you’re interested in joining our movement, fill out this form and become part of our mission!
Stay tuned for updates as we continue on this exciting journey toward the Super World Championships!
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1 Read more about Worlds 2023 here
2 Learn more about iF3 competition rulebook here
3 More About British Functional Fitness Championships 2024 here
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