At this point, you’ve undoubtedly heard of CrossFit through various sources. You either have a colleague or friend who won’t shut up about how their life has been transformed. Your sister, who suddenly has toned arms, or your neighbor who is lunging kettlebells in their driveway. This fitness wave has been around for almost two decades, and is here to stay.
Keep on reading for all the details you need to know about the history of CrossFit. We’ll include details Greg Glassman, as well as the CrossFit games. Plus, find out why this style of workout is so popular!
The History of CrossFit
The Beginning of Crossfit
In the early stages of his gymnastic training, Greg Glassman made a logical yet straightforward discovery. All his gymnastic friends were using body weight as their only form of resistance. He began using dumbbells and barbells. This made him significantly stronger.
He was also cycling and realized he was stronger than these friends too, but he couldn’t out tumble his gymnastic friends. He simply became a jack of all trades. Sure, there were individual aspects he could be beaten at, but no one could beat him at all of them.
This was the birth of CrossFit, to achieve volumes of work capacity through various domains and time. It was not just to be very good at one aspect, but to be equally as good at many aspects of training.
The aim is always to be physically prepared for various types of workouts. To do this, CrossFit included ten aspects. These include accuracy, balance, cardio endurance, stamina, power, speed, strength, balance, agility, and flexibility.
Crossfit was going to incorporate all these aspects borrowing movements from other exercise regimes. Weight, distance, and time is then achieved over specific times. Weightlifting, high-intensity work, sprinting and gymnastics were going to be used as the foundation.
Glassman had opened a gym in 1996 and quickly gained popularity. So much that he was training a police department, he had other clients too, and because of the demand for his services began group classes. Thus CrossFit was born in the year 2000.
In 2005 there were 13 affiliates, and in 2012 it had become an international establishment with 3400 worldwide. The popularity grew because the workouts were simulations of the climax of any physical exertion, during various sports and activities.
HISTORY OF CROSSFIT: THE FIRST CROSSFIT GAMES
Crossfit introduced itself to the world of sport for the first time in 2007 with the first CrossFit Games. Greg Glassman gathered 70 athletes for this occasion. His belief was that the fittest athletes would be able to complete the tasks. The workouts weren’t choreographed and instead created as the contest went on.
Rowing machines, pull-ups and push jerks were being done in the sunshine. There was only one way to win the contest: do more repetitions in the least amount of time. Jolie Gentry and James FitzGerald were the first winners of this prestigious award.
These days, there are thousands and thousands of competitors worldwide and it’s become a huge event that’s organized by the popular Dave Castro.
THE SECOND GAMES
The games were growing at a rapid rate. This time 300 athletes were competing. The “Fran” workout had also been introduced along with four others. The games were extremely competitive. The 800 fans watching were not disappointed as the competition favorite was beaten and the documentary was filmed about this event.
THE BEGINNING OF INTERNATIONAL GAMES
What had begun as a successful but relatively known sporting event was now expanding to an international spectrum. Qualifiers were held in Africa, Asia, Europe, Iceland, Australia, Canada, and the United States.
4000 fans, a DJ, 150 athletes in individual contests, 100 teams in the affiliate cup, a beer garden, and a vendors tent village. This event had officially exploded onto the scene.
Some of the household names that you might know include the following:
- Brooke Wells
- Katrin Davisdottir
- Josh Bridges
- Alex Anderson
- Dan Bailey
- Matthew Fraser
- Ben Smith
- Brooke Ence
- Sara Sigmundsdottir
History of the CrossFit Games
The Continuing Success
By now, Crossfit is a popular term, and it has become a revolutionary term for fitness. It has become the premier test for athletic eligibility. Crossfit was now competing with Ironman triathlons, the NFL, and other athletic performance fitness tests.
Since it began in 2007, CrossFit has become one of the fastest growing sports in America. Crossfit became a community for people to not only workout but pushed themselves, but also shape self-confidence. A team like an ethos with individual results.
THE END
Three-time winner of the Crossfit games, Rich Froning was going to retire after these games in 2014. Jason Khalipa, who was also a former winner, had announced his retirement. Froning won the final games he would compete in, he became a fourth-time winner. He became the most successful athlete by doing so.
A NEW BEGINNING
It had become a four-day live event. The changes made geographically through qualifiers had become more stringent. Multiple regions were competing together at regionals. Only the absolutely fittest athletes would make it to the Crossfit games.
THE ANNIVERSARY
This would be the 10th year of the Crossfit games. 324 000 athletes competed the sport had grown at an exceptional rate. The games were a shadow of their former self and had become a worldwide phenomenon.
The Takeaway on CrossFit History
Crossfit continues driving into the future and for several reasons. Crossfit utilizes the notion that everyone’s body is different. This also means peoples bodies are different at various things. You do multiple movements, so you quickly learn what you are good and not good at.
You quickly learn your bodies capabilities and get the most out of your workouts based on what you are able and unable to do. The ability to do this with others is a big reason why people are consistent while CrossFit training.
Most people don’t want the same constant movements done while at the gym they want fun challenging exercises. Which is what most people find during CrossFit training it is known as a competitive sport for adults. Human beings naturally push themselves more when they have a partner.
CrossFit has not only undoubtedly become more popular. This has warped how people think about training and the capabilities of what can be achieved from traditionally going to the gym. Crossfit has etched its way to the front of the line in an incredibly short space of time.
The functional movements and solid exercises will make sure it remains at the forefront of fitness for many years to come. And, almost all big cities around the world these days have a CrossFit box or two.
Greg Glassman on the Future of CrossFit
Have your Say about the History of CrossFit
Anything we missed, or questions you have about CrossFit’s history? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.
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John James
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Is CrossFit a cult? That’s kind of a bold claim there and not one you could easily defend I think. People do certainly get addicted to it though.