A week ago, Cedric Lapointe sat in 2nd place in the world as he waited for the announcement of 20.2. Lapointe had posted a time 8:16 on 20.1.
Now, a week later, Lapointe is nowhere near the top of the leaderboard. In fact, Lapointe is so far down the leaderboard the rest of the Open will not matter.
Lapointe was one of the 26 athletes to receive a penalty on 20.1 after CrossFit completed its new video review process during the Open. Lapointe received a major penalty for “lack of extension during the ground-to-overheads.” CrossFit penalized him 2:30, pushing his time to 10:46.
Lapointe’s 20.1 score now puts him in 772nd for the workout. He finished 40th on 20.2 and is sitting in 332nd overall in the world.
Lapointe shared the text in the email he received from CrossFit.
“Cedric, I manage the review process for the CrossFit Games. After consideration, your video has received a MAJOR penalty for consistent lack of extension in the ground to overhead. A MAJOR penalty for 20.1 is 2:30mins, which will adjust your 10:46. Good luck for the rest of the season.”
Lapointe then shares his thoughts on the situation, including his scheduled competition at the first Sanctional event this season, the CrossFit Filty 150.
“I’m someone who’s pretty happy in life, rarely sad and never mad, but this morning I am. I’m mad because I’ve sent 3 e-mails to CFHQ for an appeal and never got an answer back. If you don’t have a big name, they’ll step on you and enjoy doing it because they love feeling powerful. The system is stupid and illogical, how can a 8:16mins become a 10:46mins? How can I go from 2nd in the world to 900th? How can one persons opinion of my video determine I’m not fit enough to keep my well earned score? I’m mad because I’m not made of money, I’m a full time athlete, who can’t just compete in every sanctioned event, so qualifying through the open was important to me. I saved money to go to @filthy150 thinking it would be the 1st Sanctioned Event and easier for me to qualify for the CF Games, but they just invited 7 Games athletes. Why cant you not do that in advance? Tell the athletes and stop thinking with your wallet. We’re human beings, we don’t want to be part of your game and when I ask you in advance on IG, have the descency [sic] and humility to answer me.
“I put my life on hold for 2 years of my own life for a sport (or a brand) that can’t even respect me. Someone who paid their stupid 1K$ to be a CF trainer, someone who’s serving THEIR community and someone who’s been helping THEM grow the last 4 years. Why can’t you respect us, the elite athletes, that are spreading social media of free content for you? I’m mad because I’m only one person, one person that is trying to fight against an industry that enjoys playing with us, with the rules, the standards and the season like if we were toys and we don’t matter to them. I’m mad because despite all the previous facts, I’m in love with that sport and I’ll keep preaching it every single day. I wish things were different, I wish things were fair. I wish there would be a system that works, but I’m sad that it won’t be with CF.”
