On Monday, Talking Elite Fitness shared an interview with Professional Fitness Athletes’ Association (PFAA) president Brent Fikowski and PFAA board member Pat Vellner.
The interview dug into the inner workings of the PFAA and their recent demands to CrossFit, one of which included asking for the removal of Dave Castro from CrossFit’s Sports Team in the aftermath of Lazar Đukić’s death at the 2024 CrossFit Games. The interview also touched on CrossFit’s response to the demands and more.
Remind me: The PFAA was formed in July 2020 amid uncertainty surrounding the sport due to the global pandemic and CrossFit’s very public ownership change. The group has since been officially incorporated as a Washington-based nonprofit.
Here are six key takeaways from the podcast with interviewers Sean Woodland and Tommy Marquez.
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1. Why Make Demands Before the Investigation Into Lazar Đukić’s Death Is Finished?
Vellner’s response: “I think it’s important for people to know that the demands that were made are not exclusive to what has happened this year at the 2024 CrossFit Games. It’s not decided in singular to one incident. It’s not just about the death of Lazar.”
- Vellner went on to reiterate that CrossFit’s “willful disengagement” from listening to athletes’ concerns, largely regarding athlete safety, led to the demands.
As a result, this year’s events were the final “breach of trust.” The PFAA argues that athletes are fed up with CrossFit’s culture, which has too often silenced their concerns.
- “There’s still a culture of fear that exists amongst the athletes to speak up,” Vellner said.
The PFAA ultimately feels that breaking away from this culture will be “nearly impossible,” Vellner explained, without removing Castro, CrossFit’s current Director of Sport, from the helm.
- “It’s not just about the results of the investigation. It’s about this long-term systematic behavior…Our demands won’t change based on the results of the investigation…This just goes a lot deeper than that. And I think it was important for us to take fast and firm action to just show the seriousness of the PFAA and the athletes in general,” he concluded.
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2. If Not Castro, Who Should Be in Charge?
“I don’t think anyone needs to [replace Dave], in our opinion. That’s not really a job title. I don’t know who invented hockey or who directed the first Super Bowl,” Vellner said. “In most major sports examples that we have, those positions aren’t really known or necessary. One major part of Dave’s role in the Sport Team is he programs workouts…and I think a team of people working together could achieve what he does at least at the same level.”
- He added: “Change is hard. People are unfamiliar with what the Games would look like without Dave…CrossFit started as this challenger brand in the fitness space…and I think that it needed a persona like [Dave] in its infancy to grow to what it was. And Dave was integral in making that happen, and I think he did a lot of great things for the company and for the sport. [But] I think that it’s a different time now.”
3. What Has CrossFit’s Response Been to the PFAA’s demands?
CrossFit acknowledged the PFAA’s demands, according to a statement given to Men’s Health:
From a CrossFit spokesperson via email to Men’s Health:
- “We acknowledge the demands made today by the PFAA, and appreciate their desire for action. We initiated a third-party investigation within 48 hours of the tragic accident that is actively underway. As the facts are gathered in the coming weeks, we are prepared to take all appropriate actions based on the findings. In the meantime, CrossFit’s CEO, Don Faul, will continue to speak directly with the broader athlete population, including the PFAA, as well as coaches and other members of the community to ensure we understand their perspectives and how we can work together to build greater trust and safety for the future of our sport.”
During the TEF interview, Fikowski said the PFAA spoke to CrossFit, and the company spokespeople have said any decisions they make moving forward will be announced publicly.
- “We’re not privy to anything [more than the public],” Fikowski said.
4. What Happens if CrossFit Ignores the Demands?
Vellner’s response: “We have a plan.”
- “If they say no, it’s a pretty clear signal that athletes are not factored into their priorities around the sport, and so, there is a plan but we’re not going to disclose it just yet,” he added.
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5. Who Is Eligible To Be Part of the PFAA, and How Is the Board of Directors Determined?
Fikowski explained that the top individual male and female athletes in the world, based on their competition results, are eligible to be members of the PFAA.
- “There’s a rolling 24-month calendar, where each month, the oldest month gets kicked out,” Fikowski explained.
Right now, there are 143 eligible men or women, and 63 percent of them are confirmed voting members. Fikowski explained that this will trend up in the upcoming weeks as the recent Games rookies are added as eligible members and voters.
Once an athlete is a member, they can attend meetings and become eligible to vote on who becomes a member of the PFAA board. (To become a PFAA board member, you also need to be an eligible member based on your performance results).
One big thing: Seven-time CrossFit Games champion Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr posted a statement on Instagram this week, explaining her position with the PFAA.
- “In 2020, I helped start the PFAA with Brent Fikowski and Adam Neiffer because we wanted to elevate our sport and create a safer and more stable future for anyone striving to compete. While I have stepped back from being directly involved in the association, my belief in this mission remains the same,” she wrote.
She added: “There are many questions that have to be answered before we can move forward, but I’m ready to do my part. I just hope CrossFit is prepared to do the same, to step up and work together to improve the sport, protect its athletes, and create a better future for all of us.”
6. Why Do We Need the PFAA?
Vellner’s response: “For one thing, it’s a model that you see in other sports.”
- “Changes, particularly around safety or rule changes, like you see rules around head injuries…that’s stuff that is pushed by athletes primarily. They’re trying to protect themselves and their interests and they want the sport and the game that they play to reflect that,” he continued.
CrossFit’s unwillingness to engage in “meaningful conversations” with the athletes aside, having an organization like the PFAA is common practice in sports these days. Vellner explained that it is a way to ensure athletes’ voices are heard.
The Big Picture
Until CrossFit’s third-party investigation is complete and/or the company responds more directly to the PFAA’s demands, the sport seems to be in a holding pattern.
With more questions than answers, what the 2025 season will look like at this point is anyone’s guess.
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Featured image: @thepfaa / Instagram
