CrossFit Games

Camille Leblanc-Bazinet, 2014 Reebok CrossFit Games Champion, during the Thick 'n Quick event of the 2014 CrossFit Games

The CrossFit Games is an athletic competition sponsored by Crossfit Inc.[1] and Reebok.[2] The competition has been held every summer since 2007. Athletes at the Games compete in workouts that they learn about hours or days beforehand, consisting mostly of an assortment of standard aerobic, weightlifting, and gymnastics movements, as well as some additional surprise elements that are not part of the typical CrossFit regimen such as ocean swimming, softball throwing, or ascending a pegboard.[3][4] The Games are styled as a venue for determining the "Fittest on Earth," where competitors should be "ready for anything."

History

The CrossFit Games began as a small competition and have grown since its inception in 2007.[5] The first CrossFit Games were held at a small ranch in Aromas, California owned by Dave Castro’s family, the director of the CrossFit Games. Due to the growth of the sport, in recent years, the Games have been held at the StubHub center in Carson, CA.[6]

The CrossFit Games season involves three stages for competitors. Since 2011, the Open has been the first stage of the qualification process to compete in the CrossFit Games.[7] The Open was created as an online format to facilitate participation by athletes worldwide. Prior to the introduction of the Open, the preponderance of competitors were American (though the 2009 individual men's champion, Mikko Salo, is from Finland, and the 2010 women's runner-up, Annie Thorisdottir, is from Iceland). During the Open, a new workout is released each week on Thursday night and athletes have until Monday evening (Pacific Time) to complete the workout and submit their scores online, with either a video or validation by a CrossFit affiliate. Beginning in 2013, CrossFit began airing live announcements for the Open workouts and would have past CrossFit Games athletes immediately complete the workout in a head-to-head competition. Athletes are ranked worldwide and by region. The top CrossFit Open performers in each region advance to the regional events.[8] The top men, women, and teams from each regional competition go to the CrossFit Games. In 2016, those athletes that qualify for the Games receive between $1,000 and $5,000 based on their standing at the end of the weekend.

The Games include divisions for individuals of each gender, for a number of Masters age groups, and for co-ed teams. Beginning in 2015, there are also two age divisions at the Games for individual Teens: 14-15 and 16-17.

Popularity

Participation and sponsorship have grown rapidly since the inception of the Games. The prize money awarded to each first-place male and female increased from $500 at the inaugural Games to $275,000 in 2013-2015. The largest jump in prize money came from the first Games sponsored by Reebok in 2011 when first place went from $25,000 in 2010 to $250,000 in 2011.[9] The total prize payout in 2016 will be $2,200,000.[10]

In 2011, 26,000 athletes signed up to compete in the "Open". In 2012-2016, participation was 69,000, 138,000, 209,000, 273,000, and 324,307 respectively.[11][12][13][14] In 2016, 175 countries were represented by registered participants.

Champions by year and category

Individual and Team Champions[15]

Year Individual Men Individual Women Team
2007 James Fitzgerald Jolie Gentry CrossFit Santa Cruz
2008 Jason Khalipa Caity Matter CrossFit Oakland
2009 Mikko Salo Tanya Wagner Northwest CrossFit
2010 Graham Holmberg Kristan Clever CrossFit Fort Vancouver
2011 Rich Froning Jr. Annie Thorisdottir CrossFit New England
2012 Rich Froning Jr. Annie Thorisdottir Hack's Pack UTE
2013 Rich Froning Jr. Samantha Briggs Hack's Pack UTE
2014 Rich Froning Jr. Camille Leblanc-Bazinet CrossFit Invictus
2015 Ben Smith Katrín Tanja Davíðsdóttir CrossFit Mayhem Freedom

Masters Men's Champions[15]

Year 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60+
2010 Brian Curley
2011 Scot DeTore Gord Mackinnon Steve Anderson Greg Walker
2012 Gene LaMonica Gord Mackinnon Tim Anderson Scott Olson
2013 Michael Moseley Ron Ortiz Craig Howard Hilmar Hardarson Scott Olson
2014 Shawn Ramirez Jerry Hill Will Powell Steve Hamming Scott Olson
2015 Shawn Ramirez Matthew Swift Joe Ames Will Powell Steve Pollini

Masters Women's Champions[15]

Year 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60+
2010 Laurie Carver
2011 Susan Habbe Mary Beth Litsheim Shelley Noyce Betsy Finley
2012 Lisa Mikkelsen Susan Habbe Marnel King Mary Schwing
2013 Amanda Allen Lisa Mikkelsen Colleen Fahey Gabriele Schlicht Sharon Lapkoff
2014 Amanda Allen Kim Holway Mary Beth Litsheim Susan Clarke Karen Wattier
2015 Janet Black Kylie Massi Cindy Kelley Susan Clarke Rosalie Glenn

Teens Champions[15]

Year 14-15 Boys 14-15 Girls 16-17 Boys 16-17 Girls
2015 Angelo Dicicco Sydney Sullivan Nicholas Paladino Isabella Vallejo

References

  1. ↑ "How CrossFit Embraced Fans and became the next great spectator sport". Forbes.com. June 2, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  2. ↑ Millington, Alison. "Reebok in ‘relaunch phase’ as it looks to become top fitness brand". Marketing Week. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  3. ↑ "Major Announcement for Individuals". CrossFit Games. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  4. ↑ "Why the Pegboard Challenge at the CrossFit Games Was Such a Beast". Men's Fitness. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  5. ↑ "The History of the CrossFit Games by Dave Castro". CrossFit Journal. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  6. ↑ "Games Tickets in 2015". CrossFit Games. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  7. ↑ "About the Games". CrossFit Games. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  8. ↑ "Regionals". CrossFit Games. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  9. ↑ "CrossFit's Relationship with Reebok Enhances Its Financial and Commercial Credibility". Forbes. July 22, 2011.
  10. ↑ "CrossFit Games Prize Purse Grows". CrossFit Games. July 7, 2014.
  11. ↑ CrossFit® (2016-04-11), Stats From the 2016 Open, retrieved 2016-05-05
  12. ↑ "How Fast Are the CrossFit Games Growing? The Numbers Tell the Story". Tabata Times. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  13. ↑ "209,585: Rise of the Open". CrossFit Games. March 26, 2014.
  14. ↑ "INSIDE THE LEADERBOARD: TO SCALE, OR NOT TO SCALE". CrossFit Games. April 7, 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "CrossFit Games Leaderboard". Retrieved October 13, 2015.
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