Update: Information regarding Dave Castro’s responses to questions regarding the giveaway — as well as a fan-led petition to cancel the giveaway — are detailed below.
Over the years, CrossFit Games winners have received increasingly larger cash prizes on top of a growing pool of equipment, apparel, and other supporting brand products. This year, winners will receive a prize in a new category: A Glock pistol.
“The top male athlete, the Top female athlete, and every member of the winning team will receive a @GlockInc pistol. —@TheDaveCastro, Director of the #CrossFitGames | #teamglock
It’s worth noting the winning athletes probably won’t be handed Glock pistols; instead, our guess is that they’ll get a voucher or coupon to redeem at a licensed firearm dealer.
The announcement came from the Games’ official Instagram page and Games Director Dave Castro. Castro — a U.S. military veteran — is an active practitioner of shooting sports and regularly posts videos of himself practicing shooting drills, in addition to an extensive gun collection.
To many in the CrossFit community, the Glock prize might not come as much of a shock, and while we have yet to see a shooting event at The CrossFit Games, it’s not uncommon for Games athletes to practice shooting in the months and weeks leading up to the year’s biggest event in fitness competition.
Updates as of July 14:
As of Thursday afternoon, a Change.org petition started by Daniel Bartels asking CrossFit to cancel the Glock prizes has received over 9,3100 signatures.
Vice Media’s “Broadly” site interviewed Castro and asked him several questions about the gun giveaway; notably, according to Castro, the giveaway is not a “partnership” between CrossFit and Glock, but the gun company is “simply providing some legal pistols to the winning athletes.”
Broadly’s article also includes a statement from Reebok regarding the pistol prizes, excerpted below:
“As the title sponsor of the Games, we unfortunately do not have input regarding other partners or promotions. While we understand CrossFit’s foundations are tied to law enforcement, military and first responders, we do not agree with this decision, particularly in light of current events in the United States.”
The full interview and statements on Broadly can be read at the link above.
What do you think? Is it appropriate for Games winners to receive the Austrian-made pistols as part of their prize packages? Let us know in the comments below.