History of CrossFit
In this article we recover the history of CrossFit grouped by years.
1974
Greg Glassman seeks to improve his capabilities
A gymnast at the time, Glassman, then only 18 years old, was looking for a form of training that would allow him to improve his physical abilities. Creates the first CrossFit concepts in Santa Cruz, Calif.. It is then that he applies to his clients a training method that consists of mixing fundamental movement exercises with sprints.
1995
Opens a gym in Santa Cruz
First CrossFit gym opens in Santa Cruz and is hired to train the police department.
2000
CrossFit Inc. is founded
Greg Glassman co-founded CrossFit Inc. with his wife Lauren Jenai. and CrossFit North in Seattle becomes the first affiliate.
When he created the logo, Glassman wanted to combine the idea of laughter with the suffering of training. Hence, the vomiting clown known as "Uncle Pukie" was born.
2001
CrossFit.com is launched
The CrossFit.com website is published, where you can consult the WODThe site also offers training videos, exercise demonstrations and a forum where you can interact with other users.
2002
CrossFit Journal
On April 1, Greg Glassman published the first article in the CrossFit Journal called Foundations (fundamentals), with the purpose of defining CrossFit and inspiring and supporting the community.
The article became a key part of the Level 1 training guide used at the CrossFit Level 1 Seminar and is consulted by thousands of coaches.
In October of the same year, Greg publishes the article "What Is Fitness("What is Fitness?") and becomes the first person to articulate the principles of fitness in order to measure, observe and analyze the safety, efficacy and efficiency of a fitness program.
2003
Affiliate program launched
CrossFit launches membership program for centers.
2005
CrossFit ''Performing the common uncommonly well'' and rhabdomyolysis in the New York Times
Greg Glassman writes the article Virtuosity.
The New York Times publishes an article about "the CrossFit craze". They further explain the case of Brian Anderson, a user who suffered a serious back injury after the first WOD of kettlebell swings he made. He was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis in the hospital. From there Uncle Rhabdo is bornthe clown in the illustration who is hooked up to a dialysis machine to change his blood.
Glassman said in this regard, "It can kill you...I've always been totally honest. If you can't stand to have your rings fall off and some neck breakage, we don't want you in our group."
2007
Games are born
The CrossFit Games is the international competition held during the summer in which competitors from all over the world fight to be the "Fittest on Earth".
Dave Castrowho trained under Glassman's supervision, proposes a live competition offering his family's "Ranch" as a location.
The prize started with 500$ and now 300,000$ are awarded. for the fittest man and woman on the planet.
After a few years, Dave Castro confessed in a podcast, "Greg Glassman saved my life. He gave me the opportunity to contribute in another way and to have work and life secured."
2009
The number of affiliates explodes
More than 1,000 members to CrossFit worldwide and the rate of applications is 2-3 per day.
- The Games award becomes 5000$.
2010
Reebok contract and change of scenery
The CrossFit Games are moving to a new location: the Home Depot Centre in Los Angeles, California. For the first time they can be seen live on the live.crossfit.com website.
- The award becomes 25.000$
– CrossFit signs a 10-year contract with the sports brand Reebok.
2011
El Open is born
Athletes from all over the world compete during 6 weeks and 6 wods, uploading their scores to a website that can be consulted by anyone to achieve a place.
More of 26,000 participate in the first edition, making this online competition in the biggest sporting event in history.
Competitors have 2 ways to validate their result:
- Option 1: Perform the WOD on an affiliate and be judged live.
- Option 2: Upload a video so that it can be evaluated and viewed by the entire community.
In the first year under the Reebok brand, the prize in the Games increases from 25,000 to 250,000$.
2012
Greg Glassman divorce
Glassman gained full control of the company following his separation from Lauren Jenai, who tried unsuccessfully to sell her share to a third party but it was Glassman who eventually bought it for 16 million.
2014
CrossFit denounces the NSCA
CrossFit denounces the National Strength and Conditioning Association. (NSCA) for publishing a study claiming that 9 out of 54 people doing CrossFit had to drop out due to injury. CrossFit claimed the information was false and intended "to try to scare participants away from CrossFit."
2015
War with CocaCola
CrossFit uses the social network Twitter to show its position against sugary drinks and their direct relationship with the deterioration of the population's health.
2016
Resolution NSCA complaint
- The court agrees with CrossFit that the injury data was false but denies that the NSCA had a commercial interest. It also does not find that the study was defamatory since the NSCA stopped supporting it.
- More than 13,000 members worldwide.
2017
CrossFit denounces the NSCA once again.
CrossFit is once again suing the NSCA after it was admitted that documentation was falsified with the intent to injure. Despite receiving 74000$ in legal costs CrossFit persists with new lawsuits.
2018
Last year with regionals
This year there were 9 Regionals (a combination of 18 regions), a live competition to which only the best of the Open were admitted and which granted a direct pass to the Games.
2019
Complete changeover to the GAMES format
Greg Glassman eliminates Regionals and instead creates the Sanctionals (competitions that give access to Games but organized by partners). Creates the National Champions (the best of the Open in each country) so that each country has at least one representative in the Games.
The CrossFit Games 2019 becomes the Games with the most countries represented and the largest number of athletes (+250 individual athletes) in history.
- NSCA is ordered to pay CrossFit $4 million in damages.
2020
The tweet sentencing Glassman
In June he makes a tweet responding to another account on a Black Lives Matter issue in which he says "it's FLOYD-19". This ignites the CrossFit community and at the same time several accusations of sexism and abuse of power by Glassman within the company come to light. A huge number of athletes, workers, boxes and sponsors decide to publicly turn their backs on him. In this very happy situation in which the future of the brand was put in doubt, Glassman is forced to sell the company to Eric Rozaan affiliate and computer genius.
Roza's arrival brings a breath of fresh air and his changes have finally restored the lost confidence.
With the pandemic Games 2020 will be carried out in two phases. The first online and the second in person with only 5 male and 5 female athletes at Dave Castro's Ranch.
– The contract between Reebok and CrossFit ends.
2021
Roza recovers the "Regionals
- In 2021, the Open is reduced to 3 weeks and once completed, 2 more weeks (Quarterfinals) are added for the 10% of the highest placed athletes only.
- Those who pass this phase move on to the 10 Semifinals, which will be face-to-face competitions to be held on 6 continents.
- A new category is added in Games: Adaptive
2021
Mat Fraser retires
The 5-time CrossFit Games champion announces his retirement in a letter to his followers. He will continue to be linked to the sport but in other facets as a coach in his "HWPO" programming. He launches "321Podium", a sports supplementation brand, and sponsors Justin Medeiros as the first athlete.
2021
NOBULL becomes new Games sponsor
The American apparel and sneaker brand becomes a sponsor of the CrossFit Games 2021.
2021
Tia Clair Toomey and Justin Medeiros win the CrossFit Games
Tia Clair Toomey wins the CrossFit Games for the 5th consecutive time. After the withdrawal of Mat Fraser, Justin Medeiros is the first to win the CrossFit Games. Some people are already talking about the Medeiros Era.
2022
Eric Roza fires Dave Castro
With the Open just weeks away, Dave Castro, creator of the CrossFit Games, is fired by CrossFit's new owner.
2022
Dave Castro returns to CrossFit
The creator of the CrossFit Games returns to the company that fired him and his new duties will be to work directly with the affiliated boxes.
2022
Don Faul appointed CEO
Eric Roza appoints Don Faul, new CEO of CrossFit. The former U.S. Marine Corps platoon commander has worked at companies such as Pinterest, Meta and Google.
2022
CrossFit Games 2022
Tia Clair Toomey makes history by winning her sixth CrossFit Games and Justin Medeiros repeats for the second time. Rumor has it that Toomey may retire soon, but the athlete has not confirmed it.
2022
Tia Clair Toomey announces pregnancy
Despite assuring that she would participate in the 2022-2023 season to try for her seventh title, on December 24 she announces on Instagram that she is pregnant and will not participate.
This means there will be new face on the Fittest on Earth title by 2023.
2023
CrossFit Games 2023
Laura Horvath and Jeffrey Adler are the winners of the CrossFit Games 2023. The Russian Roman Khrennikov starred in one of the most emotional moments when he went out to compete with a limp due to injury. He did not retire and ran the last events with serious ankle problems.
CrossFit separates the AGE GROUP and ADAPTIVE from CrossFit Games.
CrossFit has announced partnerships with competitions that will serve as finals for the Adaptive and Age Group categories.
The number of places for masters and teens will be doubled, and adaptive will have competition in all categories.
The Age Group will follow the traditional model of Open, Quarterfinals and Semifinals before participating in the Pit Teen Throwdown and Legends Championship.
WheelWod Games, together with CrossFit, will organize the entire competitive season, from the WheelWod Open, to the finals.
Membership cost rises
CrossFit announces that it will raise the affiliate rate in 2024. In the United States the fee will increase from 3000$ to 4500$. In Spain it will increase from 2630€ to 3945€. Beginning in 2024, all affiliate owners, existing and new, will be required to obtain a current L2 credential. Those who need to obtain the credential will have 12 months after signing the renewal to enroll in an L2 course.
2024
Lazar Djukic dies at CrossFit Games 2024
Lazar Djukic drowned during the first event. CrossFit Games announces the start of an investigation to clarify the reasons, although many point to possible negligence on the part of the organization. The competition continues despite the fact that many athletes dropped out, among them the current winners Laura Horvath and Jeffrey Adler.
