We are stuck in the mud—warring tribes at each other’s throats. While pondering what brought us here, I realized one central issue: there’s only one thing to talk about—the Games and the season. Wrapped into that are stories of Lazar’s death, the PFAA disputes, and HQ’s missteps.
Despite being more than just a sport, CrossFit seems devoid of initiatives worth discussing beyond competitions. Under Greg Glassman, there was a war on sugar in the medical field, publicized affiliate gatherings, service projects in Africa, and the sport itself. When multiple positive initiatives exist alongside setbacks, the missteps are easier to overlook. Right now, it feels like we’re 0 and 1.
It’s time to move forward. Get out of the mud. Put one foot in front of the other. Here are a few initiatives that I believe HQ—and we as a community—have left on the table.
1. Tackling Diabetes:
We are facing the most critical public health crisis in U.S. history. In 2021, according to HealthData.org, “Almost three-quarters of the adult population (172 million adults aged 25 or older) in the USA were estimated to be living with overweight or obesity.” By 2050, that number is projected to reach 81%. That’s 81% of people becoming a strain on themselves, the medical system, and society.
We’ve long claimed to have the cure for the world’s most vexing metabolic problems. So why aren’t we banging this gong loudly and relentlessly?
Where we’ve fallen short is in producing credible stats, research papers, and science to legitimize our claims. We know the truth. We’ve seen transformations in every CrossFit box around the world—people on the brink of death reclaiming healthy, fulfilling lives they once thought impossible.
We live in a world obsessed with “evidence-based” science. This is where CrossFit can shine. With over 10,000 affiliates worldwide, we have thousands of living laboratories. Imagine HQ staff appearing on national TV, major podcasts, and in reputable publications, presenting real data supporting our claims. That alone could get us closer to 30 million CrossFitters globally.
2. Social Media’s Double-Edged Sword:
Social media is both poison and utility—a known contradiction. Anxiety, depression, and self-loathing have surged since its rise. You know what counters these issues? Training.
Working out builds internal confidence through hard-earned effort. The intensity of CrossFit workouts unleashes hormones and energy that combat social media’s negative effects.
While we can’t undo social media’s grip, we can learn to mitigate its harm responsibly—and teach others to do the same.
More importantly, think of the children. As an adult, I remember life before social media, which helps me turn it off when needed. Kids today will never know that world. Local CrossFit boxes can offer an escape—a place where internal motivation and real-world resilience outweigh virtual validation.
This topic has been largely ignored in our community, yet it has immense potential to promote every CrossFit box worldwide. Again, with affiliates acting as local labs, we could conduct studies to prove how our training impacts mental health for both adults and children.
Yesterday, I met with Matt Souza and Coach Kenny Kane to discuss these issues. Kenny is a 20-year affiliate owner and notably hasn’t used social media to promote his gym for over 5 years. We got deep into the topics of where CrossFit is, diabetes, and social media. It was an enlightening and refreshing conversation on where we as a community might focus our efforts moving forward. Worth the watch.
Lead
I’ve long thought that HQ should invest in university partnerships and fund research. Here’s where I circle back to being a “CrossFit shill.” My faith in HQ has dwindled, yet I’m reminded of my brothers.
I’m the oldest of three boys. There have been times when my brothers pissed me off or made serious mistakes. In those moments, the response isn’t to bury them and walk away. You pick them up. You offer your shoulder. You help them stand. Once they’re upright, then you look them in the eye and tell them how badly they’ve messed up—and keep helping them move forward.
It’s not enough to just tell someone what to do—you have to show them.
While I believe CrossFit HQ should spearhead these initiatives, we need to be the example. They’ve fallen. While we help them get back on their feet, it’s our responsibility to show them what leadership looks like.
We can fund research; it doesn’t take much. A few thousand dollars can support a graduate student passionate about topics that matter to us.
This is my hope for the CrossFit community: despite the missteps of our brother, we walk forward—so that one day, they may walk confidently and lead again.
