Reigning 4-time Fittest Man on Earth Mat Fraser will not be participating in the Rogue Invitational scheduled to take place this weekend.
Fraser took to his Instagram page to relay the news that a previous injury hindered his preparation for the event and is the reason for his withdrawal.
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“Missing the atmosphere and epic event by [Rogue Invitational]…I would have shared this earlier but with the current events, I felt it could wait. I’m bummed to be missing out on a opportunity to throw down with [Tia-Clair Toomey] and the other athletes this weekend for the [Rogue Invitational]…I was nursing an injury from a few weeks back and while that injury is no longer a concern, it did hinder my preparation for this event”
The “current events” is likely referencing the controversy surrounding former CrossFit CEO Greg Glassman and his comments with regard to the Black Lives Matter movement. The backlash from which ultimately led to a substantial number of gyms de-afilliating and his resignation.
Fraser shared his thoughts on the controversy yesterday on his Instagram page:
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“I felt like it went without saying but I want it to be clear, I do not support Greg Glassman…I’ve dedicated my life to this sport. I’ve become the person I am today through the lessons I’ve learned in training and competition. I do not attribute my successes (or failures) to the organization. The community we have will survive this and it is not defined by one man’s opinion. I’m looking for change and my support will be given to those leading the way.”
The Rogue Invitational will remove the CrossFit logo from the 2020 event.
Fraser’s withdrawal brings the total number of athletes competing in the Rogue Invitational to 36 — 18 male and 18 female.
Feature image from Mathew Fraser’s Instagram page: @mathewfras
