In June 2018, I sat in CrossFit HQ’s offices, about to record an episode of the CrossFit Podcast.
I had no idea who was interviewing me, no clue who owned the company, and no recognition of names that, to some in the community, were legends.
Rory (McKernan)? Adrian (Bozman)? Greg (Glassman)? Dave (Castro)? No idea.
- When Sevan Matossian asked if I knew who “Patrick Vellner” was, I answered honestly: “Who’s that?”
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That wasn’t a jab at Vellner — it was just my reality and the reality for many others. I had very little exposure to the CrossFit world outside of my gym.
- The Games never shaped my CrossFit experience, and they never will. I was focused on showing up, learning, and getting healthier every day.
The Games didn’t pull me in — the people did.
Regular folks showing up, working hard, and striving for healthier, longer lives. I’d heard of the Games and CrossFit HQ with its larger-than-life figures, but I never watched, never followed.
And would it have made any difference in my journey? Not one bit.
- I’ve been to the Games a few times, mainly to see friends or speak on a panel, but I never stayed long. Don’t get me wrong — it was exciting, impressive, an incredible spectacle. I just wasn’t a die-hard fan. After a few hours, I was good.
For me, the top of the CrossFit pyramid has never been “sport” — at least not in the way it is for Games athletes. My competition wasn’t lifting a barbell under stadium lights.
It was learning to climb a ladder without fear, navigating the three flights of stairs in my home, and pushing myself to be more independent.
Sport, to me, was never a noun — it was a verb.
- To play. To engage. To move with energy and joy.
Whenever I gained a new skill, I felt like I had won something. And while I can only imagine what it feels like to win an event at the Games, I like to think that sense of accomplishment — of pushing past something once impossible — is a feeling we all share.
The 2024 Games and Why We’re Still Here
When I first heard the news about Lazar Ðukić, I cried.
It was devastating. I was shocked by some of the decisions that had been made, and I watched from a distance as the community fractured, torn between fiercely opposing sides. It was tragic.
Heart-wrenching.
But I chose not to engage — not in online discussions, not in DMs, not in comment sections.
- Not because I didn’t care but because I had nothing of value to add. I wasn’t an elite athlete. I had never been involved in the Games, competition, programming, or the safety concerns at that level.
So, I made a choice — out of respect, not indifference. Anything related to the sport side of CrossFit was best left to the athletes. They knew that world. I didn’t.
My opinions, at best, would be speculation. I believed that the people who live and breathe CrossFit as a sport were the ones best equipped to shape its future. I still think this.
So, I did the only thing I could do. I prayed. For the family. For the community. That lessons would be learned. That if change was needed, it would happen so that nothing like this ever happens again.
My “Why” Has Never Changed
When I became a coach, the mission was clear: help others struggling with chronic disease.
That same purpose drove me when I opened my affiliate.
I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I had a 400-square-foot space and a passion for working with those facing severe obesity.
But I also knew my impact would be limited if I worked with only one person at a time. That realization led me to create Working with Larger Bodies, allowing me to empower coaches and multiply that reach.
I never spent much time thinking about the CrossFit Games.
- Most years, I did my part — I signed up for the Open and supported the sport — but that was about it. That world felt far from mine. But that’s the beauty of CrossFit: both worlds exist, and that’s what makes it special.
As time went on, I saw different sides of CrossFit. I met incredible people. I also had moments of feeling let down. I watched people I once deeply respected say and do things that were shocking, even hurtful.
- But at the end of the day, that was part of the appeal of CrossFit, too. We all get to run our gyms, coaching practices, and businesses in our own way.
No two affiliates are the same, and that’s what makes this community so rich — the variety of perspectives, experiences, and coaching styles that exist under one big, messy umbrella.
And yet, these were the parts of CrossFit I embraced — the imperfections, the individuality, the fact that no two journeys look the same. That’s what makes it real. That’s what makes it authentic.
Why We Choose to Stay
What happened at the Games doesn’t change the power of CrossFit’s methodology, the magic of improving health, or the way it transforms lives.
It doesn’t erase the work happening in affiliates every day — fighting chronic disease, building communities, and helping people do what once felt impossible.
This mission matters.
Scaled Nation CrossFit chooses to stay an affiliate because I believe in our mission. CrossFit is something I do and cherish — but it’s not who I am. And for me, that has always been enough.
- Am I morally corrupt for believing in the mission and choosing to stay? Absolutely not.
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When you tie your identity to a brand, a logo, or anything external, you give it power over who you are.
So when it stumbles, it can feel like a crisis — but that’s a choice. Who you are isn’t defined by a brand; it’s defined by your values, your actions, and the impact you make.
- If a company no longer aligns with your values, leaving is valid — so is staying.
These decisions aren’t always easy. They’re personal, layered, and rarely about just one thing.
My values haven’t changed—helping people improve their health, fight chronic disease, and build stronger communities.
As long as I can keep making an impact, that’s what matters.
- The real conversation isn’t about judgment — it’s about making choices that align with what matters most. Some affiliates will leave, just like some gym members do.
Their decisions don’t change the work I do, just like mine don’t change theirs. Some athletes will choose not to compete. It’s completely understandable and that’s okay.
Yes, we’re all under the same umbrella, but our missions, our reasons for being here, and what drives us have always been different. And that’s precisely why there’s room for each of us to make the right choices — for us.
Growth is at the core of coaching, training, leadership, and life — for all of us.
- The newcomer unsure if they belong. The seasoned athlete who is pushing for more. Me, striving to be a coach my gym family is proud of. Even CrossFit leadership, navigating challenges and hopefully, opportunities to improve.
Growth isn’t about perfection — it’s about humility and grace. Every day, we have a choice: show up, do better, and keep moving forward. That’s the actual work.
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Featured image: Athena Perez, @scaled_nation / Instagram
