Crookwell, Australia August 27, 2026: Today, the International Functional Fitness Federation (iF3) has announced that a reconstituted Australian Functional Fitness Federation (AFFF) is rejoining the iF3 to represent the country of Australia. The former AFFF was disbanded in late 2025.
Ryan Seaman, President of the AFFF announced, “Re-establishing the AFFF gives us a rare opportunity to build something modern, transparent and genuinely athlete-focused. We are not simply restarting an organisation—we are creating a brand new national federation that listens to its community, operates with integrity and gives Australians a clear pathway from local competition to representing their country on the world stage.”
He went on to explain that, “Our first year will be about establishing strong foundations while creating immediate opportunities for Australian athletes. Leading towards 2028 “Super Worlds” in Greece, we will introduce a national membership structure, develop athlete and official pathways, strengthen relationships with gyms and competition organisers, and begin building a high-quality domestic competition calendar. Every step will be guided by good governance, open communication and a long-term vision for the sport.”
Australian athletes are eligible to participate in the the Masters World Championships in Aruba in October, and the World Championships in Scotland in December. Given the short timeframe in this re-establishment year, the AFFF will soon open an expression-of-interest process for eligible Australian athletes seeking selection for either the Masters World Championship or the World Championship. Clear eligibility and selection criteria will be published through AFFF official channels, with the aim of providing a fair, transparent and accessible pathway to represent Australia.
Seaman expressed his excitement about the future saying, “This is an incredibly exciting moment for Australian functional fitness. We have talented athletes, passionate gyms, and a community that already possesses enormous energy. Our job is to bring those people together, turn that potential into a strong national sporting system, and build a Federation Australians are genuinely proud to represent. Brisbane 2032 gives our sport an inspiring horizon, but the work—and the opportunity—begins now.”
Gretchen Kittelberger, President of the International Functional Fitness Federation, commented, “The iF3 is looking forward to working with Ryan and his team to build a solid governance foundation in Australia, with the aim of having the federation recognized by the Australian Sports Commission well in advance of Brisbane 2032.”
