The CrossFit world was rocked by Greg Glassman's racist and conspiratorial comments, but the truth is that our issues run much deeper. Our community turned a blind eye for too long. 

We believe in the functional fitness methodology — and in the power of an inclusive and diverse community — but we know that "CrossFit" cannot continue to exist without real change. 

As members of the community, we demand: 

1. NEW OWNERSHIP

Any changes are not real if Greg Glassman maintains sole or substantial ownership. CrossFit should transition to a Public Benefit Corporation or affiliate/employee/member-ownership model, with a robust, diverse, and empowered board of directors from the community.

2. FRESH LEADERSHIP

CrossFit has stagnated under its current leadership. Replacing the problematic CEO with a company insider from the old executive team is insulting to those who truly care about this community — especially because Dave Castro is problematic for a different set of reasons. CrossFit HQ needs leadership that can unite the community, steer the business strategically, articulate and execute a commitment to inclusivity, and reflect positively on the brand.

Dave Castro ain’t it.

3. AN INCLUSIVE, ANTI-RACIST COMMUNITY

“Inclusion is an active effort, not a passive one,” to quote Games athlete Meredith Root. CrossFit has a problem. Of course people from all backgrounds, races, and walks of life have been “allowed” to participate. But we, as a whole community, have allowed ourselves to skate by for too long on “allowing” participation and not seriously pushing ourselves to cultivate a more inclusive, diverse, anti-racist community. This will be a long and hard process, but CrossFit HQ could show its commitment with some initial action steps.

(As of now, they have not.)

4. BRAND AND MISSION CLARITY

CrossFit HQ says its mission is to offer “an elegant solution to the problem of chronic disease.” That mission rings hollow if our primary interventions are expensive gym memberships and periodic beefs with soda brands. Either take up that mission seriously — using the CrossFit training methodology while deploying organizational resources against economic and racial disparities that overlap with and strongly predict chronic disease — or else just scrap it.

The brand has been incoherent for years. At this point, it has negative value. If CrossFit is going to continue to exist as a company, or as an overarching brand, it needs a clear mission and a unifying set of values across affiliates.

5. QUALITY CONTROL

CrossFit HQ cannot exist as an L1 certification mill. It reflects poorly on our community — and risks doing harm to those we serve — when unqualified coaches are churned out with undeserved or meaningless certifications. The CrossFit seminar staff has a lot of talented athletes and coaches, but the certification process needs additional quality control for the safety of members and the health and wellbeing of the community.

Seminar staff must be diverse and every course must include a component on anti-racism, implicit bias, and inclusivity.

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In the CrossFit community, we know that progress must be measurable. Words alone are not enough to prove fitness, nor are they enough to prove a commitment to positive change and anti-racism. Meeting these criteria would show the community that CrossFit HQ is serious about a new direction and that CrossFitters globally can still use the name with pride.