Addition of Adaptive Divisions Further CrossFit’s Inclusive Sports Season
On May 5, CrossFit announced that Adaptive athletes will receive representation at the 2021 CrossFit Games where they will have the opportunity to compete for the title of Fittest Adaptive Athlete on Earth.
Remind me: In the original 2021 CrossFit rulebook there were 16 adaptive divisions, but no information about the continuation of the competitive season for adaptive athletes beyond the Open.
Who’s in?: According to CrossFit, and in keeping with their pattern for determining continental representation, “the three adaptive divisions [that will be competing at the Games] were determined based on Open participation”.
There were three divisions which had “approximately 100 participants” and will therefore send the top 5 men and top 5 women following the Open to the Games this summer:
- Upper Extremity: Men and Women
- Lower Extremity: Men and Women
- Neuromuscular: Men and Women
Details: CrossFit will go through a process of ensuring the athletes who receive invitations qualify for the “specific criteria outlined for [their] divisions in the rulebook.” Once that is confirmed, invitations will be sent to the qualifying athletes “as the competition gets closer”.
Future plans?: CrossFit is taking the same approach here as they are with the 65+ Masters division, meaning they will reassess the inclusion (and possibly expansion to more adaptive divisions) at the Games based on Open participation each year.
The bottom line: It is becoming more and more clear that the new regime at CrossFit is willing to take actions that back up their claim that they want to make the sport as inclusive as possible. They are staying true to their methods by rewarding participation as well. And, lastly, they are open about making these decisions not just because of participation, but also community feedback. Adaptive athletes have had select opportunities to workout on the floor at the Games before, but the opportunity they will have this year is far greater, and very well deserved.