For the second year in a row, Rich Froning will replace the reigning Fittest Man on Earth at the CrossFit Invitational.

Team USA's Mat Fraser, who won the CrossFit Games individual title in July, has pulled out of the 2016 CrossFit Invitational in Toronto on November 20, citing a "nagging injury." Froning was tapped as the coach of Team USA before the event and will now also serve as a competitor.

Games director Dave Castro was the first to make the announcement on his Instagram account.

[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLe_WdqD6wO/" hide_caption="0"]

Froning also pulled double duty as a coach and athlete last year when Ben Smith, the 2015 CrossFit Games individual champion, withdrew from the 2015 CrossFit Invitational with a back injury. In a tight competition, Froning helped lead Team USA to the title over the Canadian, Pacific, and European teams in Madrid, Spain.

In an Instagram post, Fraser said Team USA is lucky it can turn to the best backup in the market in Froning.

[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BLgPjNVjAVr/" hide_caption="0"]

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