Greg Glassman’s controversy and new CrossFit CEO

greg glassman resigns

In the recent days the Crossfit world has literally been turned upside down and shaken about to an extent where many of us are left wondering, if after this week our beloved sport will ever be the same.

Greg Glassman's comments

For those who are unaware Crossfit founder, CEO and owner Greg Glassman this past weekend tweeted a series of insensitive at best and racist at worst remarks.

greg glassman twitter floyd comment

Additionally when an affiliate owner emailed CFHQ questioning their lack of acknowledgment of the BLM movement Glassman directly responded to the email attacking the owner, telling her he was ashamed of her and questioning her mental health.

Not to mention his questionable remarks made during a Zoom meeting held with a number of affiliate owners when they asked him about their silence regarding the movement and Floydโ€™s death.

All these actions are deplorable and cannot be ignored especially coming from the owner of a global brand such as Crossfit.

Athletes and brands turn their backs on Greg

As a matter of fact shortly after these events became of public knowledge athletes and brands started retaliating. Many brands including Rebook, Rogue and FitAid cancelled their sponsorship deals with CF.

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Additionally the vast majority of Games or retired Games athletes publicly denounced CFHQ and made sure that the whole community knew where they stand when it comes to racial inequality. Big names such as Noah Ohlsen, Chandler Smith and Kristi Eramo all announced that they wouldnโ€™t be partaking in the Crossfit Games 2020.

Lastly one after the other affiliates started announcing their intents to not renew their affiliation with the Crossfit brand. The current known tally stands at 1250 a loss of roughly 3.75 million in annual revenue.

By Monday evening the Crossfit community was left with so many question: where do we go from here? Whatโ€™s the future of the Games? Are more athletes going to cancel their Games ticket? Will things change at my box once it removes itโ€™s affiliation? But probably the most important question of all, a question so many athletes tried answering in their own Instagram posts, is: what are Crossfit and the Crossfit community? Especially now where so many of the โ€œfoundational figuresโ€ of the sport have distanced themselves from Glassman and his brand. To answer this question we reached out to some of our most renown athletes to  to have their opinion on what Crossfit is to them. Because at the end of the day Crossfit is a sport, itโ€™s a lifestyle and most importantly itโ€™s a community, a community that wonโ€™t stand up for a brand that doesnโ€™t represent itโ€™s core values.

Kristof Horvath: Crossfit has taken over my life 7 years ago. I have lead, built and been a part of the global and micro community we call boxes. The same boxes I have known to be tight circles where people of all ethnicities, race, age and gender can rely and trust one another. I see hundred of our athletes walking into our gyms to have one of the best hours of their day and each one of them is welcome, because this sport and our community IS INCLUSIVE!  trying to build relationship, fitness and health.

Jacqueline Dahlstrom: It makes me both happy and proud to see so many stand up and not keep quiet anymore. One thing that I always loved about Crossfit is that unlike โ€œconventional fitness gymsโ€ when entering a box you actually feel like you belong and are able to make friends. I used to work out at a normal globe gym and would train โ€œwithโ€ people for years without really having a conversation with them. I definitely wouldnโ€™t be where I am today without the support and community at the boxes Iโ€™ve been so fortunate to call โ€œhomeโ€.

 
 
 
 
 
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Canโ€™t help but feeling a mix of anger, sadness, disappointment and embarrassment at the moment. Iโ€™ve followed along whatโ€™s been happening over the weekend trying to process it all, but I must admit Iโ€™m still in a bit of a shock and are still struggling to find the right words. โ €โ €โ € โ €โ €โ €โ € What I do know is that I do not support the statements made by CFHQ and CEO Greg Glassman. To be honest they disgust me and makes me feel a bit sick to the stomach. โ €โ €โ € โ €โ €โ €โ € That being said. CrossFit and itโ€™s community is bigger than one mans words and it makes me both happy and proud to see so many stand up and not keeping quite anymore. โœŠ?โœŠ? โ €โ €โ € โ €โ €โ €โ € BLACK LIVES MATTER ? Letโ€™s lift each other up โค๏ธ

Una publicaciรณn compartida de Jacqueline Dahlstrรธm ?? (@jacdah) el

Julie Hougard : When I think of the Crossfit community I picture friendliness and unity. I have met so many people through Crossfit, some of them I consider my very best friends. The community has shown me patience and compassion. The support I received fueled my fire so many times when I felt low. It has helped make me more resilient, determined and confident enough to chase my dreams. This is what anyone should expect when walking into a Crossfit gym no matter gender, color or age.

 
 
 
 
 
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I was not sure if I should say something, but I am realising that every single voice matters now more than ever. One manโ€™s insensitive and disrespectful statements do not reflect the hard work and compassion of an entire community. This organisation/brand does not define us. We are more than CrossFit. Whereever we go, whatever we do, we are all equal. Now is not the time for silence. Whatever voice we have, big or small, now is the time to use it. I do not support comments made by Greg Glassman and the blatant disregard for other people truly disappoints me. I have met nothing but friendly, welcomming and compassionate people in this community and I hope we can unite even more through all this. We will not stand for this. But we will stand together to fight it. #blacklivesmatter #equalityforall

Una publicaciรณn compartida de Julie Hougรฅrd Nielsen (@julie.hn) el

Ella Kanona: My whole life would look completely different if it wasnโ€™t for this sport. Iโ€™ve met so many  people through CrossFit and built a life I would have never achieved before. And the majority of my Crossfit memories revolve around the community. Itโ€™s what I love most about this sport; the people. Wherever you go in the world you can walk into a Crossfit gym and feel at home. I feel proud to be part of such a strong and non-shit taking community. We Have shown how strong we are together and it has given me hope.

ella kanona the progrm

Rebecka Vitesson: Itโ€™s incredible to be part of such a strong and united fitness community, full of power and determination. To me equality is a core value: everyone deserves to be welcomed and respected inside and outside of the gym.

Greg Glassman resigns

Of course we canโ€™t stop here with this article, by Tuesday in fact Glassman announced his resignation as CEO of the company. The man who will be taking his place is no stranger to the CF community either: Dave Castro. It is important to note before we dive into more details that Glassman is still the 100% owner of Crossfit. This means he still will benefit from a financial standpoint from the possible growth of CF in the upcoming years, he also can take control of the company if he believes necessary to do so.

When Crossfit released the statement announcing Glassmanโ€™s retirement Dave also issued this comment on the matter.

โ€œCrossFit is a community โ€” one that is global, diverse, and tough. Every person in our community shares a common bond. We are all dedicated to a visionary, transformative approach to health and fitness. Our individual passions for that approach have forged an enduring community. 

Our community is hurt, though. Our shared bond brings together millions of people with differing opinions, viewpoints, and experiences. Friction is inevitable. Common ground, mutual respect, and fellowship must also be inevitable. Iโ€™m honored to take on the role of CEO of CrossFit, Inc. I hope to do right by affiliates, trainers, athletes, and other members of the CrossFit community around the world and never lose sight of the mission Greg established for us all.โ€

Dave Castro new CrossFit CEO

Although it would be easy to attack Castro on his lack of acknowledgment of the mistreatment of affiliate owners from the hand of Glassman it would also be equally unfair to place a final judgment on him. The community has had a hate love relationship with Dave Castro for years now, we know you all cursed him a couple times during the open ;). So we are open to see where this new leadership will take the community and the sport as a whole. But most importantly we now know that Crossfitters from all over the globe wonโ€™t stay quiet when they face something they firmly believe to be wrong and unfair.

The future may be uncertain but we are going to keep a positive outlook because at the end of the day we know there will always be our gym community to catch us and put Crossfit back on the right path when it loses itโ€™s direction.