Last week, I was chatting with another member at my gym, Kea Athletics, in Surrey, B.C., and I suddenly became very thankful that I started CrossFit back in 2008 when I was a college rower.
During a simpler time.
This other member started at the beginning of 2020, so the first thing she experienced was her gym shutting down during the first lockdown of the global pandemic.
- Next came the Greg Glassman scandal, which led to hundreds of affiliates threatening to leave the community, eventually culminating in an ownership change at CrossFit.
The immediate months that followed were filled with more drama and instability at CrossFit headquarters: Dave Castro was fired and re-hired. CrossFit’s new owner, Eric Roza, removed himself as CEO and was replaced by Don Faul.
And on and on.
And just as it seemed like things were starting to feel more stable in the CrossFit world, tragedy struck at the 2024 CrossFit Games: Lazar Đukić drowned in front of the entire community. CrossFit promised transparency and initiated a third-party investigation, but when the investigation was complete, they announced that they’re not releasing details.
As for the 2025 season, the number of opportunities for the best athletes in the world to compete in person and in front of fans seems to be shrinking.
- Not only will next year’s CrossFit Games prize money hinge upon Open participation, but who knows how many of our favorite athletes will boycott the season in protest?
And here we are again, feeling as though this whole thing might go belly up.
As a huge fan of the sport and the methodology, the wind has most definitely been knocked out of my CrossFit-loving sails.
So, when I was speaking with that member of my gym about her experience in the community in the last four years, I couldn’t help but feel grateful.
Grateful for having joined this community during a time of more innocence.
- Sure, I remember hearing about some drama in 2009 about Robb Wolf (the author of The Paleo Solution) getting kicked out of CrossFit or something to that effect. Still, for the most part, it really was a less dramatic and controversial time.
Hardly anyone had ever heard of CrossFit when I started, and there was something magical about feeling like I was part of a secret club.
When I showed up to compete with my CrossFit Vancouver team at the 2010 Games in Carson, CA — wearing my long bacon socks just like everyone else — it was like nothing I had ever experienced before.
Yeah, it was competitive, and people took it seriously, but it was still an amateur sporting event. We couldn’t believe the winner was going to take home $25,000.
Back then, athletes weren’t picking up tens of thousands of followers on Instagram and sponsorships weren’t on the line. Athletes were competing for the love of the sport, and the excitement was contagious.
When that member of my gym found out that I had been doing CrossFit since 2008, she asked me what it was like back then.
- “There wasn’t so much controversy. Mostly, it was just about getting fitter than we ever thought we’d be, having fun with really cool people, and feeling those addictive post-workout highs,” I said.
She looked at me and said, “Well, isn’t that what it’s still about? That’s what I love about it.”
It dawned on me that she was right.
Despite all the uncertainty and fear about CrossFit’s future right now, and despite our frustrations, our local communities and the methodology are still winning out.
Even those who only started CrossFit in the last few years are still reaping the most important benefits.
And I realized that now, 16 years into my CrossFit journey, I, too, am still reaping the same benefits I did on Day 1.
Realizing this made me feel better.
CrossFit isn’t going anywhere — and for that, I will forever be thankful.
Featured image: Ralph Steele
