With a short message on Twitter published after a meeting on Zoom with various CrossFit® athletes
Games 2020, the new one CrossFit® CEO, Dave Castro, has announced that Games 2020 will be the last ones he will manage.
Starting next year, it will probably be Rich Froning (4 times champion in the Individuals category and 4 times champion with the Teams) to manage everything.
Thanks for hopping on a short notice zoom call today @CrossFitGames 2020 athletes. Good discussion to include working together more in the future and this will be the last games I program. 2021 season potentially scheduled by @richfroning #crossfit #crossfitgames #richfroning
- Dave Castro (@thedavecastro) June 12, 2020
It has not been confirmed whether managing the Games will preclude Froning (which has been competing every year since 2010) from being able to participate as an athlete in future competitions.
Froning is currently organizing the Mayhem Madness event for August, which will be a kind of substitute race for teams that have been cut off from the 2020 Games (only Individuals will participate, due to the health emergency).
This is another gods many changes that are happening in these tumultuous weeks for CrossFit headquarters.
Index
But what is going on?
For those who missed it, we briefly explain:
Tensions escalated last week after CrossFit founder (and now former CEO) Greg Glassman has published a tacky tweets on the death of George Floyd.
Also, the emails between Glassman and the owners of Rocket CrossFit in Washington have caused large gaps across the community.
An audio of a Zoom call that Glassman would have had with the owners of some boxes about CrossFit and the Black Lives Matter movement has also shot a lot on the internet saying:
"I highly doubt they are mourning Floyd", talking about the protesters and CrossFitters who were trying to maintain a company position.
All of these events sparked one storm of criticism, even by prominent athletes, who have publicly declared their disappointment and disagreement with Glassman's comments.
Over 1.000 affiliates - including 2008 Games champion Jason Khalipa - have announced they would cut off any ties with the company.
Even some business partners have retired, as Reebok, which has decided not to renew its sponsorship deal with CrossFit.
A few days ago, however, CFHQ announced that Glassman would be withdrawn from his position as director and that Dave Castro would become the new CEO.
Dave Castro: the main face of the Games
Castro has long been the main face of the Games, checking every aspect. The first three editions, in fact, took place in his ranch in Aromas, California.
Even this year's Games will take place there: was originally scheduled at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin, but was moved to a smaller private location due to COVID-19 pandemic.
It is not clear if, and in what way, the recent events will have any impact on the Games this year. Several athletes - including Noah Ohlsen and Chandler Smith - have announced that they would not have participated if no major changes had been made.
But these statements were made before Castro was announced as the new CEO… Do you think anything will change?