10 Reasons Why Crossfit IS a Sport

This article is in response to a 2013 article published by Bleacher Report on “10 Reasons Why Crossfit Isn’t a Sport“.

And to start off the official definition of a sport by the Oxford Dictionary is:

“An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.”

We could basically finish the article with that right now, but we wont because with the 2020 Crossfit Games coming up in just 2 weeks we wanted to point out why Crossfit as a sport has grown so dramatically in the past few years.

We will be using the exact same points the writer from Bleacher Report (Dan Carson) used, but instead we will be explaining why those points are wildly inaccurate.

Lets dive in.

1) “A Club, Not a Team”

Carson stated that because you don’t have to earn your way into a Crossfit box and that you simply can pay a membership fee to join that you are not considered an athlete.

This however is no different than a fighter paying to join their local boxing or martial arts gym in attempt to train their talents to that of a professional level.

Every year Crossfit Games hopefuls have to take part in the Crossfit Games Open as the first stage of the Crossfit Games season. You can not buy yourself into the next stage of the season, it has to be earned through performance.

2) “Sports Aren’t a Dating Service”

This point doesn’t really make much sense in our opinion, but let’s take a look at it anyway.

He states that because Crossfit gyms have men and women training together the gym is more of a dating service than an athletic pursuit.

At the Crossfit Games and in all related Crossfit Games qualifiers (Crossfit as a sport) men compete against men, and women compete against women. The scores of every athlete are compared and scored against their individual division and gender.

It is irrelevant that men and women train together in the same gym even if it is a breeding ground for creating strong relationships. Sounds like a plus to us.

Would that mean that if a male rugby team and a female rugby team practiced on the same field at the same time using the same balls that rugby could no longer be considered a sport? Of course not.

3) “No Fans”

In 2020 this argument is basically a joke, and here are a few points why:

The upcoming Crossfit Games will be televised live by CBS Sports as were past Crossfit Games.
The 2019 Crossfit Games was sold out.
10+ Crossfit Games athletes have over 1 million followers on Instagram alone as well as many other Games athletes have in the high 6 figures.
Multiple Crossfit Games athletes have been featured on high authority worldwide media publications (Sports Illustrated, CNN, Good Morning America, CBS, FOX, etc.)
Past Regionals and current Sanctionals events typically sell out or have thousands of fans in attendance.

4) “No Score”

There’s really no point to this one. Obviously score is kept at the Crossfit Games, Regionals, Sanctionals, The Open, and local competitions, as well as even in local Crossfit gyms for the recreational Crossfitter.

5) “No Accountability”

He states “If you’re on a sports team and don’t show up to a game, that’s a problem. Even if it’s just a recreational game, your buddies might not be able to find a replacement and the whole thing will be ruined.“

If you are competing in the team division at a Crossfit competition you don’t think your team would be a bit upset if you don’t show up?

One of the coolest things about Crossfit are its benchmark workouts that allow you to re-test your fitness every so often. If you are not improving or your scores and times are getting worse, you’re going to likely hold yourself accountable, although those you train with probably also do it.

6) “You Tell Everyone Everything”

Again, another strange point in attempt to ruin Crossfit’s credibility.

Because Crossfit athletes publish their daily workouts and strength numbers online Carson states that you are letting your opponent know your game plan and that you are only advised by your coach to record your scores because it is free marketing for that specific gym.

In response to the game plan point. Athletes in the same division (individual or team) have to complete the exact same workouts, but they way they strategize how they are going to attack a workout will likely all be different.

One person might pace the beginning and sprint the end, while another athlete might do the opposite. One team might do touch-n-go reps while the other team does singles. It is false to believe those athletes are going to willingly explain their strategy to the other competitors.

And when it comes to publicizing your workouts, that is done mostly to hold that athlete accountable…which was already discussed.

7) “Sports Are Unmistakable”

Carson states that you could come across a Crossfit competition and potentially mistake it for something else, such as “pedestrian lifters”.

If you were to walk around the Crossfit Games there would be no chance of not recognizing it as Crossfit. We could also guarantee that if you stand next to Games athletes in person there is no mistaking them for pedestrian.

8) “No Uniform”

A Crossfit Games athlete and a professional UFC fighter wear the exact same uniform. A pair of shorts and no shirt.

Perhaps the multi-billion dollar sport of martial arts is also not considered a sport in his eyes.

9) “No One To Look Up To”

Carson states that perhaps you can respect a Crossfit Games athlete but not look up to them. One point he makes for this argument is that even if you did look up to them you’ve probably met them in person, which makes it a personal preference he says.

I’m sure many aspiring and current Crossfit Games athletes look up to athletes like Rich Froning, Tia-Clair Toomey, Mat Fraser, and Katrin Davidsdottir, all of who have won multiple Games championships.

The argument against meeting them is comical. When a high school basketball player briefly met Michael Jordan in person I doubt they stopped looking up to him.

10) “There’s No End Goal”

For his last point Carson states that Crossfit athletes solely workout “just because” or to just look good with no real end goal.

For everyone that has ever entered into a professional Crossfit competition their goal was to finish 1st.

For everyone at the Crossfit Games their end goal is to be crowned the Fittest on Earth.

Overall the argument claiming that Crossfit is not a sport is ridiculous and holds no authority.

What do you think? We would love to hear what you think about it if you could take 2 minutes to leave a comment on our Instagram post below.