Justin Bergh Leaves CrossFit, Dave Castro to Lead Sport Team
Justin Bergh has left his position as CrossFit’s General Manager of Sport approximately 18 months after taking the job. Per CrossFit CEO Don Faul, effective immediately, “Dave Castro will step in to lead our Sport Team.” Castro previously held this position from 2007 until January 2022, when he was fired just seven weeks before the start of the 2022 CrossFit Open.
Bergh previously served as CrossFit’s Vice President of Sport and Partnerships from 2021 to 2022. He was named General Manager of Sport shortly after Castro’s release. Bergh previously worked as the General Manager of the CrossFit Games from 2013 through 2020 and had been involved in CrossFit competitions as far back as 2006. At the time of this article’s publication, no official reason has been given for Bergh’s departure.
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CrossFit’s New (Old) General Manager of Sport
Bergh’s exit and Castro’s hiring were confirmed to BarBend by CrossFit HQ, with the following statement from CrossFit CEO Don Faul:
“After 13 years, Justin Bergh will be leaving CrossFit,” Faul wrote. “[Bergh] has done so much for our community, and we’re incredibly grateful for the role he’s played in making CrossFit what it is today. Dave Castro will step in to lead our Sport Team, who are prepping to make sure we have an amazing 2023 Games.”
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Though Castro, a former Navy SEAL, was fired in January 2022, he returned to the company around five months later, in June. According to a statement provided to BarBend from CrossFit at the time, Castro’s new role was as a “key advisor focused on our affiliates and coaches.”
Two months after Castro’s return, in August 2022, Faul was named CrossFit’s new CEO, succeeding Eric Roza, who stepped down earlier in the year.
Will This Impact the 2023 CrossFit Games?
When Castro was previously fired seven weeks before the 2022 CrossFit Open, BarBend reported that much of his programming for that year’s competition remained. Bergh’s exit takes place six weeks before the 2023 Games, though it’s unclear if this change in leadership will meaningfully impact the 2023 Games. The 2023 CrossFit Games are scheduled for Aug. 1-6, 2023, in Madison, WI.
BarBend will update with this article as more details become available.
Featured Image: @diablocrossfit on Instagram