Continued from part 1.
Much of the subsequent “controversy” surrounding Layman’s 2025 CrossFit Open scores following the Mayhem Classic Invitational could have been avoided if he had just recorded his workouts, but we all know he didn’t.
- Key detail: Rule 1.19 of the 2025 CrossFit Games Rulebook, on score submission and validation, does not require athletes to record their workouts if they are performed at a “validly licensed CrossFit affiliate gym in good standing and [receive] validation from the affiliate manager.”
“This was a total mistake on my part,” Layman now admits. “Looking back, I should have 100% filmed it.”
He explained that he had won money in an online challenge previously, but was later reprimanded “for trying to make money online.”
- Layman explained: “After that happened, I informed my commanding officers that I was participating in the CrossFit Open and there was a possibility of winning money. I wanted to find a way to do this legally within the Army.”
His superiors made it clear that he would not be allowed to compete for cash, so Layman took the money out of the equation.
- “I knew from last year that the only way to win money is if you submit the video,” he continued. “So, from my eyes, if I am not eligible to win money, why go through the hassle of setting up a camera…and taking up more of Skyler’s time to do this?”
In the moment, it seemed like a no-brainer.
To the Army, there is a significant difference between potentially earning money through an online competition and winning money at an in-person event, like the CrossFit Games.
- “They have had issues with people getting online jobs and working during work hours. Therefore, my unit just said no to online things. They don’t care if we have another job, as long as it’s not during our work hours.”
Several online personalities demanded that he provide video recordings, including asking to see security camera footage from the affiliate.
- Layman explained: “When it came to access, there are no key fobs; everyone has the same code to enter, and there is no log showing who went in and out. There is one door and one security camera above the door.”
He learned that the security footage was only available for 30 days, which prevented him from accessing videos that showed his entry into the gym after questions arose on social media.
However, Layman uses Google Maps, which includes a Timeline feature that tracks location history when enabled and regularly saves his device’s precise location.
Layman’s Timeline was enabled, and he has screenshots showing himself at the gym on all three Fridays of the Open during the times he claimed.
Layman completed the other two Open workouts, and when the leaderboard updated, he saw that the affiliate owner was validating his workouts. He thought everything was fine as the Open came to a close.
As we already know, he finished the Open in fifth place.
Rumors and Repercussions
As the online chatter kept going after Mayhem, Layman saw how people on the internet made assumptions about him.
He recited the long list of rumors.
- “There has been so much stuff said that is just blatantly not true. I didn’t cheat in the Open. Skyler Johnston is a real person. I did all three workouts at CrossFit St. Robert and completed them to the standard according to the CrossFit rulebook. I’m not in trouble with the military, I’m not getting kicked out of the Army, and I’m not under UCMJ action,” Layman clarified.
On April 9, the Syndicate Crown announced a list of confirmed male athletes who would compete in the event in late May. Layman’s name was included on the list.
As he had done for previous competitions, he had requested leave for those dates.
Layman knew his boss would hesitate to grant the leave, as the competition coincided with the date his group would begin a new cycle of recruits.
His superior officer told him it would be busy and that he would be needed at work.
- “Right now, I work for basic training,” Layman said. “We get a group of kids, work a whole cycle with them, and then have time off. This cycle was scheduled to happen the week of Syndicate.”
He continued, “The first three weeks of a pickup are all hands on deck, and you’re there around 15-20 hours a day. Given the timing, I needed to be at my job. I couldn’t afford to take the time off.”
The Syndicate Crown wrapped up on Sunday, June 1.
Although Layman did not compete, his name was still mentioned in Instagram posts, live feed comments, and across the internet.
It’s gotten to him.
- “It’s awful, just feeling it like it’s a dark cloud that follows you around, no matter what you do, you can’t escape it,” he said. “No matter how much you ignore Instagram, you’re still going to see stuff. You’re still going to think about it. It just hovers around you, and never leaves.”
Despite this cloud, Layman remains resolute: “I didn’t cheat. I’m not a cheater. I’m never going to admit to that, because I never did it.
What’s Next?
When it comes to fitness, Layman has signed up to compete at Metcon Rush, which will take place from July 11 to 13 in Hagerstown, MD. Currently, he is waiting to hear whether his leave will be granted so he can make the trip and compete.
When asked if he still plans to compete there despite everything that has happened over the past few months, Layman said, “Correct. If I can go, I will go.”
However, he hasn’t been doing much CrossFit training lately.
- “This has taken a toll and made me question whether I still want to be part of the CrossFit community,” he said. “When you get dogged in comments, and everything you do is under a microscope, and the community that’s supposed to be so good at holding people together is just tearing you apart…why would I go step out on that competition floor again?”
When asked about the future, Layman said, “In eight years, when I get out of the Army, and someone Googles my name, the first thing they see now will say, ‘he was the biggest cheater in CrossFit.’ He did this, he did that, and those things are up there permanently.”
In the end, Layman says it was never his ultimate goal to end up at the CrossFit Games.
“Naturally, being an athlete in the sport, the end goal is to be as good as possible, and that might have meant the Games,” he said. “But my priorities are the U.S. Army, protecting the nation. Second is being a volunteer firefighter, protecting the community. And then third is family, and then CrossFit. This is just a hobby that I’m good at.”
- “I never planned to go full-time CrossFit, become a Games athlete, and make money doing this,” Layman said. “It was never about the money, or the fame, or making it to the Games. It was about doing it because I enjoyed it, and doing it as long as I enjoyed it.”
Does Cale Layman still enjoy CrossFit?
- “No, I really don’t,” he said.
One Final Note
On Dave Castro’s “Week In Review,” published June 9, CrossFit’s Director of Sport addressed the situation. Layman submitted statements from his judge and fully cooperated with the requests made of him.
“We have investigated further with Cale as well as additional sources within the community,” Castro said. “While we could not get the proof we wanted, we also could not disprove the validity of the submissions. Therefore, we will not be invalidating his times for the Open, and the leaderboard will receive no changes.”
More CrossFit Stories
- Is CrossFit Dangerous? The Data Says No
- After Tragedy Struck During Their Rookie Years in 2024, These 3 Returning CrossFit Games Athletes Hope for Normalcy in Albany
- Brent Fikowski Talks New Standards Database and Safety Push on Froning Podcast
Featured Image: @mitsufujimedia / Instagram
