Overview, Eligibility Criteria Changes for Adaptive Divisions

The 2023 CrossFit season for adaptive athletes will be quite different from previous years. According to the organisation, a new Adaptive Athlete Policy will be outlined in the Rulebook when registration for the Open begins on November 15^th.

For next year, all eligible impairments have been updated. Now there will be a measurable minimum impairment criteria and verification standards to ensure athletes with similar abilities are grouped into appropriate divisions.

Source: Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.

Adaptive athletes are required to submit an Adaptive Competition Eligibility Form (ACEF) along with “video or photo evidence of their impairment.” CrossFit outlines that a diagnosis is not sufficient to qualify for competition, but rather they must meet the impairment criteria noted above. The only exception where a diagnosis is sufficient is for athletes with Down syndrome applying for the intellectual division.

The impairments must also be present consistently. Athletes will be evaluated during the classification assessment and throughout the athlete’s participation in the season. “Impairments that are not present consistently through all stages of classification and competition are not eligible.” As part of the observation process for impairments, all athletes doing the RX’d Open are required to submit videos to confirm the data presented via the ACEF.

The eligibility classification begins with the submission of the ACEF which can be done before or during the registration process for the 2023 CrossFit Open. Classification will conclude after the close of the Open. CrossFit will record an athlete’s classification and provide a published list so athletes can follow the status of their competitors and for CrossFit-licensed events to utilise the same eligibility system for their competitions.

According to CrossFit, this means that some athletes who were eligible in 2021 and 2022 might not be eligible for an adaptive division in 2023.

The same 8 adaptive divisions will still be present in 2023, but Neuromuscular changed its name to Multi Extremity.

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Related: All 15 Changes for the 2023 CrossFit Season Structure

The Open

All athletes will be able to perform the workouts RX’d or scaled, however, CrossFit will not provide specific scaled versions of the adaptive division workouts. If an athlete performs a scaled version of a workout, there is no need to submit a modification request, but that athlete will not be competing for the title of Fittest on Earth in the division.

Still, athletes performing RX’d workouts may request movement modifications if the athlete’s impairment causes “clear and distinguishable limitations” that do not allow for proper range of motion or movement standards.

Source: Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.

New this year is the removal of the Semifinals. In 2022, the top 20 athletes from each division would go through a second stage of competition before being crowned the fittest. That has been scrapped now.

The top athletes from Multi Extremity, Lower Extremity and Upper Extremity divisions will qualify for the 2023 CrossFit Games out of the Open. The remaining five divisions will crown their fittest based on the results of the Open.

• Vision – top 3 crowned the Fittest after the Open
• Intellectual – top 3 crowned the Fittest after the Open
• Seated with Hip Function – top 3 crowned the Fittest after the Open
• Seated without Hip Function – top 3 crowned the Fittest after the Open
• Short Stature – top 3 crowned the Fittest after the Open
• Lower Extremity – top 5 athletes go to the CrossFit Games
• Upper Extremity – top 5 athletes go to the CrossFit Games
• Multi Extremity – top 5 athletes go to the CrossFit Games

Similar to 2022, athletes crowned fittest in their division at the end of the Open will be invited to a podium ceremony at the 2023 CrossFit Games in Madison, Wisconsin.

For 2024

CrossFit HQ has made clear that in 2024 it wants all adaptive divisions to compete at the CrossFit Games Finals. The only criterion is that divisions have “enough participation to allow for a competitive field,” although those conditions have not been clarified.

Read More: Official Dates for the 2023 CrossFit Season

BOSTON, Mass., yesterday Reebok, the iconic lifestyle brand, and leading experiential e-commerce and customer service company Zappos.com announce the launch of Reebok’s first-ever adaptive footwear collection: Reebok Fit to Fit.

Inclusive of both performance and lifestyle, the collection was designed in collaboration with Zappos Adaptive, a curated shopping experience by Zappos featuring functional and fashionable products to make life easier for all. The partnership was established by Reebok Design Group (RDG), the brand’s global hub for all design, development, innovation and creative services.

Building on Reebok’s iconic design heritage and silhouettes, the collection aims to enhance the quality of life for everyone by providing functional products that don’t compromise style or performance. Each style within the collection offers enhanced features to help people with disabilities gain more independence.

Source: Reebok

“At RDG, we continue to prioritize innovation by creating products that inspire physical activity,” says Todd Krinsky, Senior Vice President, GM, Product at Reebok Design Group (RDG). “We’re proud to introduce our first official adaptive footwear collection to help those with disabilities thrive – from sports and fitness to everyday life.”

Key highlights of the Reebok Fit to Fit Footwear Collection include:

• Nanoflex Parafit TR ($90): The performance focused Nanoflex Parafit TR offers a Breathable Mesh Upper that’s lightweight yet durable. The product features a Medial Zip Closure and Heel Pull Tab that makes it easier when putting on your shoes. Available in adult unisex sizing.

Source: Reebok

• Club MEMT Parafit ($65): Designed with style in mind for everyday moments, the Club MEMT Parafit offers a Medial Zip Closure for easy on and off functionality, Extra 4E for wider foot support, a Low-Cut Design for easy mobility, and Removable Sockliner for a custom fit. Available in adult unisex sizing.

“First-hand feedback from the disability community is essential when designing or modifying a product that is accessible and also delivers on fashion,” says Dana Zumbo, Business Development Manager at Zappos Adaptive. “We’re thrilled to have partnered with RDG on their Fit to Fit Collection, and for the opportunity to introduce our first functional and fashionable athletic shoe to the Zappos Adaptive shopping experience.” 

Reebok is celebrating its partnership with Zappos, the official footwear provider for the 2022 Special Olympic USA Games, by donating 750 pairs of adult shoes to ensure athletes have what they need to succeed.

The Reebok Fit to Fit adaptive collection is currently available for purchase on Reebok.com and Zappos.com in a range of colorways and mixed sizes. Single shoe options within the Fit to Fit collection will soon be exclusively available on Zappos.com.

Starting May 23rd, shoppers will have exclusive access to the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games Nanoflex Parafit TR colorway.

Source: Reebok

To learn more on Reebok’s adaptive offerings please visit: Reebok.com/Adaptive

About Reebok Design Group:

Reebok Design Group (RDG) is the global brand hub of design, development, innovation, marketing and creative services for Reebok footwear and apparel. As the central source of the brand’s creative vision, RDG provides ongoing support and expertise to Reebok’s network of strategic partners around the world. RDG champions Reebok’s storied heritage, ethos and DNA to authentically deliver a unified brand directive and consumer experience globally. A division of SPARC Group, RDG is headquartered in Boston, MA.

For more information, visit Reebok.com. Discover Reebok on Instagram, Twitter and Youtube.

About Zappos.com

Established in 1999, Zappos.com is a leading customer service company and innovator in online retail, company culture, and organizational evolution. Specializing in shoes, clothing, and more, Zappos WOWs customers through its legendary 365-day return policy, free shipping, and 24/7 friendly service. Zappos.com LLC is a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc.

About Zappos Adaptive

The Zappos Adaptive mission is to provide functional and fashionable products to make life easier. Zappos Adaptive is an online shopping experience offering clothing and shoes from innovative brands with unique features that address a variety of needs.

While the addition faced a couple of hiccups on its first year, it was ultimately a success, with top athletes in three divisions competing live at the 2021 CrossFit Games.

Adaptive athletes didn’t just answer CrossFit’s call to take part – nearly 1,000 athletes signed up to the CrossFit Open – but proved they enrich the competition and deserve the same opportunities afforded to everyone else.

This year, CrossFit will not only keep all divisions but has expanded their competing opportunities, cleared up the inclusion criteria, and improved additional details on eligibility and groupings.

These are the major takeaways from CrossFit’s 2022 Adaptive Athlete Policy.

2022 CrossFit Adaptive Athlete Policy

All adaptive athletes training CrossFit are encouraged to take part in the CrossFit Open. New for this year is a second stage of competition for the top athletes in each division has been introduced.

It will serve as a qualification round for the CrossFit Games for three divisions and the test to crown the Fittest on Earth for the remaining five.

You can find the full 2022 CrossFit Adaptive Athlete Policy here.

Source: Photo courtesy of CrossFit Inc.

Read more: Dates for the 2022 CrossFit Open, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and CrossFit Games Announced

Adaptive divisions

The CrossFit Open includes 16 adaptive athlete divisions:

• Men and Women Adaptive: Upper Extremity
• Men and Women Adaptive: Lower Extremity
• Men and Women Adaptive: Neuromuscular
• Men and Women Adaptive: Vision
• Men and Women Adaptive: Seated Athletes With Hip Function
• Men and Women Adaptive: Seated Athletes Without Hip Function
• Men and Women Adaptive: Short Stature
• Men and Women Adaptive: Intellectual

To be able to compete in any of these categories, athletes have to prove a permanent impairment, have significant functional limitation(s), and meet the minimum impairment criteria.

People temporarily injured should not sign up as Adaptive athletes, as they don’t meet the inclusion criteria.

What has changed?

• New stages of competition
• New eligibility metrics
• New classifications
• No more sport classes

New stages of competition

After the CrossFit Open, the top 20 athletes in each Adaptive division will be invited to compete in a second stage.

This stage will serve as a Semifinal and CrossFit Games qualificator round for the Neuromuscular, Lower Extremity, and Upper Extremity divisions. The top 5 athletes in each of these divisions will then, once again, be invited to compete live at the 2022 CrossFit Games.

The Vision, Intellectual, Seated With Hip Function, Seated Without Hip Function, and Short Stature divisions will crown their Fittest athletes at the culmination of this second division.

This second stage of competition will run from Thursday, June 2 through Sunday, June 5, 2022.

Source: Courtesy of ATA

Note: there is a chance for this divisions to expand and be included in the CrossFit Games too if enough interest is shown.

New eligibility metrics

Acting on last season’s lessons learnt, CrossFit has clearly defined the eligibility metrics athletes need to meet to be able to participate in the Adaptive divisions.

The minimum-impairment criteria for most divisions  has been “adjusted to include specific, objective measurements indicating degrees of limb deficiency, range of movement, muscle power, and more,” CrossFit wrote.

Eligible impairments for competition in the adaptive divisions include the following:

1. Ataxia
2. Athetosis
3. Hypertonia
4. Impaired Muscle Power
5. Impaired Passive Range of Movement
6. Intellectual Disability
7. Leg Length Difference
8. Limb Deficiency
9. Short Stature
10. Vision Impairment

New classifications

Single-Limb Neuromuscular athletes will now compete under in the Neuromuscular Divisions. This includes athletes with a neuromuscular impairment that primarily affects a single limb (upper or lower extremity). Last year, these athletes were classified in the Upper Extremity or Lower Extremity Divisions.

Athletes with multiple extremity impairments, this is athletes with a combination of upper- and lower-limb impairments, will now compete in the Upper Extremity division.

People eligible for multiple divisions should choose the one that best represents their ability, so they compete amongst athletes with similar impairments and the competition remains fair.

No more sport classes

Sport classes were included under every division to assist with classification registration and data collection. CrossFit has now removed these to simplify the registration process.

Adaptive athletes season schedule

Source: Image courtesy of CrossFit Inc.

The 2022 CrossFit Open kicks off on February 24 and will run for three weeks. Registration for the global competition started today. Find out more about the CrossFit Open here.

Read more: Meme Page MakeWODsGreatAgain Sets Up Fundraiser for Adaptive Divisions Not Included in CrossFit Games

Adaptive Athlete Policy

All adaptive athletes are subject to CrossFit’s Rulebook and Drug Testing policy.

To participate in the CrossFit Open, athletes must be at least 14 years old as of July 14, 2022 and any athlete under the age of 18 must provide further parental consent. There are no age-group categories for the adaptive divisions.

Adaptive athletes are able to request personal movement standards modifications for all CrossFit Open workouts based on their impairment.

Read the full 2022 CrossFit Adaptive Athlete Policy here.

Find out more: What The New CrossFit Rulebook Means for Master, Teen, And Adaptive Athletes

There are countless benefits to cultivating a healthy relationship with exercise for wheelchair users.

Staying fit can help to promote a more independent lifestyle and make daily tasks a lot more manageable. With the right plan in place, you can build up your strength levels to a point where you feel more confident and capable in your ability to navigate physical and mental health, as well as daily life.

The NHS recommends that adults between the ages of 19-64 do strength exercises on 2 or more days a week and at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity weekly. This advice is for everyone, wheelchair user or not.

However, using a wheelchair does come with some additional hurdles. These will require some support and patience before results are visible.

If you’re in a wheelchair, this article may help you discover more about how you can integrate an active lifestyle in a way that’s realistic and attainable.

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6 Tips on Staying Fit and Active in Your Wheelchair

Perform Cardiovascular Exercise

The aim of cardiovascular exercise is to increase the heart rate and break out a sweat—two things that are clear signs that the body is working hard to build strength and stamina.

And guess what? This is achievable whether you’re sitting down or standing up.

However, because most of our big muscles are located on the bottom half of the body, wheelchair users will need to put their focus on the upper body:

• Triceps
• Neck
• Biceps
• Forearms
• Shoulders
• Abdominals

Some forms of cardio that focus on these parts of the body can include swimming, stationary hand cycling, using rowing machines, and simply pushing your wheelchair around an open track.

There are also numerous wheelchair-friendly sports such as netball, badminton and basketball that could all prove fun and beneficial.

Source: Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.

Diversify Your Diet

Even though your diet might not be the first thing that springs to mind when it comes to staying fit and active in your wheelchair, what you eat is central to physical health and has the potential to make or break your fitness strategy.

No exercise plan is complete without a well-rounded diet.

Because wheelchair users don’t get to use large leg muscle groups in the same way that able-bodied people can, you are likely to need less calories to maintain a healthy weight.

A diverse diet is a healthy diet. Focusing on consuming a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, seeds, and whole grains while omitting as many processed foods as possible will contribute to higher energy levels, which are ideal for increased exercise.

Another useful tip for keeping calorie consumption low is to reduce the consumption of high-calorie beverages such as milkshakes, sodas, alcohol, and fruit juices.

Maintain A Healthy Sleep Cycle

Sleep is another quintessential factor in any success-driven fitness strategy—and it’s an area of health where wheelchair users are on an equal performance pedestal with everyone else.

Not only does the body undergo several important hormonal and chemical processes overnight, but being well-rested will mean you have more energy during the day to tackle exercise routines.

Conversely, not getting enough sleep will mean that you wake up feeling sluggish and slow. This makes your daily exercise goals much harder to accomplish.

Maintaining a healthy sleep cycle includes setting an appropriate time for bed and morning waking. The average adult needs seven or more hours each night. Make sure you get those hours in before you work out and try your best to stay consistent.

Include Muscle-Strengthening Exercises

Just because you’re in a wheelchair doesn’t mean you can’t build up significant physical strength. Due to the repeated motion of pushing around a wheelchair, the chest and shoulder muscles tend to get overworked and can become tight and injury-prone.

Consequently, the back muscles tend to be under-worked, which can result in an imbalance of strength. However, muscle-strengthening exercises can change that.

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Performing exercises that actively incorporate the back muscles while stretching and strengthening the upper arms will result in much easier wheelchair pushing and contribute to general upper-body fitness.

Pull-ups and resistance bands can feature very well in this area of exercise.

WheelWOD and the Adaptive Training Academy provide great resources.

Give CrossFit A Try

CrossFit is easily adapted to work for all body types and disabilities. Wheelchair users can perform many of the upper body exercises and motions unique to CrossFit. This helps to steadily increase confidence in physical abilities and promotes the development of stronger upper-body muscles.

CrossFit workouts use a number of different tools and equipment. This keeps the routine interesting and engaging for wheelchair users who may become bored with their regular exercises.

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Dumbbells, medicine balls, kettlebells, pull-up bars, and resistance bands are all easily incorporated into a wheelchair user’s beginner routine. They help to develop sustainable upper-body strength and increase general physical mobility.

The adaptive nature of CrossFit makes it easy to personalise for individuals. Everybody is unique, and wheelchair users come in all different shapes, sizes and levels of mobility. Wheelchairs also come in a variety of weights, sizes and adjustable features, making some more geared towards working out than others. This is what makes performing an adaptable exercise routine so valuable.

Example CrossFit Wheelchair Workout

CrossFit Open workout 21.1 Adaptive – Seated with Hip Function

For time:

• 1 set of alternating shoulder taps + push-up
• 10 DB core twists
• 3 sets of alternating shoulder taps + push-ups
• 30 DB core twists
• 6 sets of alternating shoulder taps + push-ups
• 60 DB core twists
• 9 sets of alternating shoulder taps + push-ups
• 90 DB core twists
• 15 sets of alternating shoulder taps + push-ups
• 150 DB core twists
• 21 sets of alternating shoulder taps + push-ups
• 210 DB core twists

20-lb. dumbbell 35-lb. dumbbell

Time cap: 15 min.

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MOVEMENT STANDARDS

Alternating Shoulder Taps + Push-Up

• Every rep begins and ends with the athlete on the ground, arms extended with shoulders and hips in line.
• The athlete will have their knees on the ground for the entire movement.
• The athlete must touch each hand to any part of the opposite arm above the crease of the elbow.
• No part of the body other than the hands, knees, and feet may be in contact with the ground.
• After the alternating shoulder taps, every rep of the push-ups begins and ends with the athlete on the ground, arms extended with shoulders and hips in line.
• At the bottom of the movement, the chest and thighs must touch the ground.
• The rep is credited when the athlete returns to the starting position, with feet no wider than hip width apart, arms extended with shoulders, hips, and knees in line.
• Each set of alternating shoulder taps + push-up counts as 1 repetition.

Dumbbell Core Twist

• Every rep begins and ends with the athlete sitting tall on the ground, with the dumbbell on one side of the body.
• Using two hands, the athlete will move the dumbbell from one side of the body to the other by passing the dumbbell over the thighs in a twisting motion.
• Both hands must be on the dumbbell at all times.
• The rep is credited when the athlete touches the dumbbell to the ground with the bottom head of the dumbbell passing behind the hip crease on the opposite side of the starting position.

Full movement standards here.

Set Goals And Stay Positive 

If you’re in a wheelchair and have minimal experience in performing regular exercise routines, it’s not always easy staying committed to them.

One way to combat this difficulty is to set yourself multiple small goals that are tricky enough to challenge you, but attainable enough that you have faith you’ll accomplish them. Goal setting is a great way to provide structure to your routine and track the progress you will make over time.

Before becoming frustrated by how far you might have to go, consider what your future strength goals are. Seek advice on what steps you must take to achieve them.

Once you’ve outlined a path, all that’s left to do is to stay positive and keep pushing until you arrive at the end. Then you can set new fitness goals and wheel yourself towards them!

Adaptive Division Day 1 recap
Adaptive Division Day 2 recap

No cuts were made to the adaptive divisions throughout the day unlike in the Age Group divisions.

WATCH: How to Watch the 2021 CrossFit Games: Livestream, Times, Dates and Full Details

Adaptive Division: Who are the Fittest on Earth?

Who are the Fittest Adaptive athletes on Earth? Here are the results after 3 days of tough competition!

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It was all to play for in the Women’s Neuromuscular Division with just 40 points between the top 3 going into the final event. Valerie Cohen (LE) had won all but one event so far, and was far and away the favourite to win the event, which she did in 8:03. It was Amy Bream who absolutely rocked the final minutes for the Adaptive division, closing out the day with a final push and an emotional finish.

In the Men’s Upper Extremity it was Casey Acree‘s to lose from the start. Winning all but one event, Acree is definitely the fittest in his division, the same can be said Valerie Cohen (LE) who also only let one event slip over the last three days.

Overall the Adaptive event brought together some of the most tenacious athletes in CrossFit, and we can’t wait to see where this division goes in the future.

Results could still be subject to updates.

Men: Upper Extremity

Women: Upper Extremity

Men: Lower Extremity

Women: Lower Extremity

Men: Neuromuscular

Women: Neuromuscular

In the inaugural Adaptive Division at the 2021 CrossFit Games, we saw some truly incredible feats of strength and skill.

Adaptive Division Day 3 Recap: Events

Event 7

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Upper Extremity

• 30 burpees to target
• 40/35-cal. ski erg
• 135 double-unders
• 24 burpees to target
• 30/25-cal. Ski Erg
• 108 double-unders
• 18 burpees to target
• 20/15-cal. ski erg
• 81 double-unders

Time cap: 16 min. *Ski erg performed with one arm only. Athletes must use the same arm throughout the workout.

*Double-unders may be two arms or monorope.

Lower Extremity

• 15 bar muscle-ups (men) | chest-to-bar pull-ups (women)
• 45/36-cal. ski erg
• 100 double-unders
• 12 bar muscle-ups | chest-to-bar pull-ups
• 36/30-cal. ski erg
• 75 double-unders
• 9 bar muscle-ups | chest-to-bar pull-ups
• 27/24-cal. ski erg
• 50 double-unders

Time cap: 16 min. 

Neuromuscular

• 15 pull-ups
• 40/35-cal. ski erg
• 75 double-unders
• 12 pull-ups
• 30/25-cal ski erg
• 50 double-unders
• 9 pull-ups
• 20/15-cal. ski erg
• 25 double-unders

Time cap: 16 min. 

Upper Extremity

Men: Casey Acree (CAP +6)
Women: Anne Laure Coutenceau (CAP +148)

Lower Extremity

Men: Ole Antonsen (13:58)
Women: Valerie Cohen (CAP +161)

Neuromuscular

Men: Brett Horchar (12:31)
Women: Shannon Ogar (CAP +29)

The double-unders in Event 7 proved to be a hang up for most of the competitors, with only Brett Horchar and Ole Antonsen — both firm leads to win overall — completing the workout in the time cap.

Event 9 – The Final

Upper Extremity

Alternating pistols
30-24-18-12-6 reps

Dumbbell thrusters (70/50 lb.)
10-8-6-4-2 reps

Lower Extremity

10-8-6-4-2 reps of:

Strict HSPU (M) | Kipping HSPU (W)
Push Press (155/115 lb.)

Neuromuscular

10-8-6-4-2 reps of:

Burpee Box Jump-Overs (16/12 in.)
Thrusters (115/85 lb.)

The Men in all three Divisions took to the floor of the Colosseum. Both Casey Acree (UE) and Ole Antonsen (LE) and been consistently dominant, with Brett Horchar grabbing another win for the Neuromuscular Division miles ahead of the rest of the competition floor. Acree blazes through the final event, winning all but one event over the weekend. Ecuador’s Victor Castro finishes second.

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Former Rugby player Elliot Young (LE) from the UK lead the floor throughout, beating Antonssen in the final event of the week. Perrier closely follows. Coutenseu wins her first event of the weekend in the Upper Extremity Division.

South Africa’s Letchen Du Plessis lead in the NM Division, chasing down Shannon Ogar for the Championship title. Du Plessis beat Ogar for the final event of the weekend, Ogar came in second, hanging on to the overall points lead, earning herself a Fittest on Earth title.

Read More: Mal O’Brien Becomes Youngest Ever Event Winner at the 2021 CrossFit Games

Following a successful Adaptive Open, 30 athletes will be competing in six subdivisions. The competition for adaptive divisions include:

• Men and Women Upper Extremity
• Men and Women Lower Extremity
• Men and Women Neuromuscular

No cuts will made to the adaptive divisions throughout the weekend unlike in the Age Group divisions.

WATCH: How to Watch the 2021 CrossFit Games: Livestream, Times, Dates and Full Details

Adaptive Division Day 1 Recap

Event 1 – Long Run

Upper Extremity

• 4.5 Mile Run (6 laps)

Lower Extremity

• 6,000-m SkiErg

Neuromuscular Division

• 3-mile run (4 laps)

Here we go!

How to watch the @CrossFitGames: https://t.co/qfio9YAVpf pic.twitter.com/x4K8ibb15s

— CrossFit (@CrossFit) July 27, 2021

Event 1: Results & Points

Men: Upper Extremity

Women: Upper Extremity

Men: Lower Extremity

Women: Lower Extremity

Men: Neuromuscular

Women: Neuromuscular

Event 2 – Couplet

5 Rounds for Time

Lower Extremity

• 1 Rope Climb (20ft & 15ft)
• 5 Deadlifts

Men: 315lb Women: 205lb

Upper Extremity

• 1 Rope Climb (20ft & 15ft)
• 5 DB Power Snatch

Men: 100lb DB Women: 55lb DB

Neuromuscular

• 1 Rope Climb (15ft)
• 5 Deadlifts

Men: 275lb Women: 175lb

6-minute time cap. Score is for time.

During Event 2 of the CrossFit Games all three of the Adaptive divisions took to the field together, with only a small variation of exercises based on ability. For many of these Adaptive athletes this the first time they have competed in a live CrossFit event.

Casey Acree smoked his second event win of the day in the Upper Extremity division in just 3 minutes and 6 seconds. The ATA’s Logan Aldridge has slipped into third place. Brett Horcher closely followed Acree for the Neuromuscular division.

Ole Antonsen also has his second event win of the day, finishing the workout in just over 4 minutes. All athletes finished inside the 6-minute time cap in the Men’s division.

For the women Valerie Cohen won her second event in the Lower Extremity division with a time of just under 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Alisha Davis won in the Neuromuscular division, closely followed by marathon runner Rebecca Shingledecker.

44 year-old Elizabeth Bridge — the oldest female Adaptive athlete — tied for first after two events with Sabrina Daniela Lopez in the Upper Extremity Division.

Event 2: Results & Points

Men: Upper Extremity

Women: Upper Extremity

Men: Lower Extremity

Women: Lower Extremity

Men: Neuromuscular

Women: Neuromuscular

Event 3 – Heavy Snatch

Upper Extremity

• 1-rep-max deadlift

6-minute time cap.

*Athletes may use equipment to add second point of contact.

Lower Extremity

• 1-rep-max snatch

6-minute time cap.

*Athletes may perform a hang or hang power snatch.

Neuromuscular Division

• 1-rep-max clean

6-minute time cap.

*Athletes may perform a hang or hang power clean.

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Adaptive Division Day 1 Recap: Results & Points After Day 1

Men: Upper Extremity

Women: Upper Extremity

Men: Lower Extremity

Women: Lower Extremity

Men: Neuromuscular

Women: Neuromuscular

After three events, only Valerie Cohen has 3/3 event wins on the first day for the Lower Extremity Division which puts her in a very strong position going into the rest of the week. Casey Acree has remained in first place in the Upper Extremity, but is being chased closely by Josue Maldonado.

It’s all to play for in the Women’s Neuromuscular Division after Day 1, with three athletes closing out the day with 190 points.

Read More: Update on Age Group and Adaptive Award Ceremonies at 2021 CrossFit Games

For the first time in history, The Bacon Beatdown has included adaptive divisions in its competition after partnering up with Wheel WOD – a nonprofit organisation dedicated to providing competitive adaptive fitness to coaches and athletes.

• Upper extremity (RX and scaled)
• Lower extremity (RX and scaled)
• Seated (RX and scaled)
• Neuro (RX and scaled)

Source: Courtesy of the Adaptive Training Academy

Logan Aldridge, one of the World’s Fittest Adaptive Athlete (Upper Extremity), famously appears in a handful of photos of him lifting heavy weights above his head. During the Bacon Beatdown it was no different.

Watch Logan Aldridge score a 225 pounds PR on clean and jerk during the competition.

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There were five events during the competition and Aldridge came out first in the “Hold ‘Em” workout in which the athlete had 5 minutes to do his one-rep max clean and jerk.

The leaderboard ended up with Logan Aldridge in second place:

1. Josue Maldonado – 7 points
2. Logan Aldridge – 12 points
3. Lenny Vallecillo – 17 points
4. Steven Walker – 26 points
5. Victor Assaf – 27 points

Logan Aldridge Prepping for the CrossFit Games

After including adaptive divisions during this year’s Open, CrossFit announced that it would crown the Fittest Adaptive Athlete on Earth for the first time. Find out the driving force behind adaptive divisions in the CrossFit Open.

Logan Aldridge will compete in the upper extremity division, but do you know who else has also qualified for the CrossFit Games in the same division? Josue Maldonado, the same athlete who finished ahead of Aldridge during this month’s The Bacon Beatdown.

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Besides the two athletes who went head-to-head already this month, the CrossFit Games Men Upper Extremity division will invite Casey Acree, Xabier Osa Mendes, and Victor Assaf.

Adaptive athletes have to overcome a lot of hurdles to compete in CrossFit — the least of which comes down to their disability. More often than not, the hurdles faced by the adaptive community come from living in an able-bodied world. Accessibility, inclusion, and understanding are all things that adaptive athletes want, and there have been great strides made in that direction in the last year within the CrossFit space.

Source: Elaina Janeale Ronai via CrossFit Inc.

Alongside the inclusion of the adaptive divisions in the Open this year, which was spearheaded by the work of WheelWOD and the Adaptive Training Academy, CrossFit has now announced that the top five men and women from three of the eight adaptive divisions will be invited to the CrossFit Games in Madison, Wisconsin in July.

Yet despite all these big strides towards providing a bigger platform for the community, it’s still commonplace to see coverage of adaptive athletes framed as “inspiration porn” by and for able-bodied people. This is the act of “portraying people with disabilities as inspirational solely or in part on the basis of their disability.” It’s a form of ableism — and athletes are tired of it.

“Trust me, I have excuses all the time.” says the ATA’s Director of Training Logan Aldridge. After losing his arm in a wakeboarding accident as a kid, Logan has been one of the most visible adaptive athletes in the scene, snatching enormous weights and earning himself the title of Fittest One Armed Man on Earth. His work on the barbell has been widely shared, and therefore has been the subject of a fair few patronising hashtags. 

“I’m freaking lazy. I have days I don’t work out. I’m not some crazy person and I don’t think anybody is. I think we’re all human.”

“Most of the time people tell me they do not know how I cope or do it (referring to exercise and daily life),” said Letchen du Plessis, who currently sits at number one in the overall leaderboard in the Women’s Neuromuscular Division. “I didn’t have a choice, it’s either you live your life or you don’t. It’s the same with exercise, you either do it or you don’t. With adaptive athletes it’s a part of our daily life and telling someone it’s so inspiring just to live our lives kinda degrades us.”

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While well-intentioned, the “what’s your excuse?” Instagram post/meme/headline is underpinned by the notion that adaptive athletes and people with disabilities lack something. Their lives, hard work, and individuality are lost when able-bodied people only see and celebrate “overcoming” something they see as a problem. 

“Everyone deals with something, everyone is trying to adapt or get through the day or show up at the gym,” Letchen continued, “My “struggle” is just visible. Someone else may be battling emotional pain or stress and it took everything in them to show up at the gym but it’s not visible. I usually say everyone is climbing an Everest but no one’s Everest looks the same. But it’s still Everest.”

Ultimately, adaptive athletes want the same treatment, coverage and praise as any other athlete in their box would receive. 

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“I’ll be at a Throwdown on a Saturday morning, and I’m going to show you what I can do, and I’m going to put you all on the floor because that’s how I want to be known, as I’m a fit person, not a mildly fit adaptive athlete,” says David Hiornes, a CrossFit trainer and owner of Brave and Functional Fitness. “And that’s what I want to be and then people in the box will be like, “admiration for you doing that,” and I’m like, “I’m just training, but cheers mate.”

David is a former Navy veteran whose time in the service left him with an impairment in his right arm. For him and most adaptive athletes with a platform, the goal is empowerment.

“I get a lot of messages like, I cried when I found your page. You have given me a lot of information about what I can and can’t do. If I had another person in the box that said I was inspiring because they needed to know what to do, then that’s better.”

Language and intent is important in making individuals feel welcome and equal. Adaptive athletes don’t want to be your #NoExcuses, so it’s time we — as able-bodied people — knock that off when we talk about their achievements and milestones.

“I hope that in ten years from now, if you’re someone living with a permanent impairment of any sort and you have aspirations to be a professional athlete in whatever sport that might be, whether it’s CrossFit or not, you see a path to that and there’s a platform for you and a real opportunity,” Logan told BOXROX. “You don’t have to be this charity case, just this motivational inspiring persona. Now you can be a professional. That’s what I hope for the legacy we leave behind.”

Read More: Training Tips: Double Unders for Adaptive Athletes

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Out of the eight original adaptive divisions in the Open, three have been chosen to represent the community in this years CrossFit Games. These are:

• Men and Women Upper Extremity
• Men and Women Lower Extremity
• Men and Women Neuromuscular

The top five men and women from each Adaptive Open category will be invited to compete in Madison closer to the date.

Working with the Adaptive Training Academy to finalise Open results, the 30 athletes will likely include well known US athletes Logan Aldridge and Casey Acree, and the only non-American in the women’s neuromuscular division Letchen du Plessis.

In their official statement, CrossFit said that these three divisions were chosen based on participation numbers and community feedback.

Keeping with the continental format of the 2021 season, the three adaptive divisions were determined based on Open participation. The upper extremity, lower extremity, and neuromuscular divisions each had approximately 100 participants, topping participation numbers across the rest of the divisions. Based on participation numbers in each division and community feedback, CrossFit is thrilled to invite the top five men and women in each of the three divisions.

Furthermore, CrossFit have all but confirmed that the 2021 Adaptive Open wasn’t a one-off, and further adaptive divisions may be added to the Games in future if there is higher participation numbers in all eight categories.

As with the newly implemented 65+ Masters Division, there is potential for additional adaptive divisions to be invited to future Games competitions, based on annual registration thresholds. Adaptive athletes’ Open participation will be reassessed yearly, and more participation means a higher chance of representation at all levels of CrossFit competition. 

The decision to include adaptive athletes in the Games is a huge step forward for inclusion not just in CrossFit, but competitive sport in general.

Read More: The Full Story: How the Adaptive CrossFit Open Came to Be

There are many benefits to performing double unders, but it is also an exercise that can take some time to master, whether you’re an able-bodied or adaptive athlete.

“The issues, the obstacles, and the challenges that adaptive athletes face with jumping rope are actually very much the same as able-bodied folks,” says Logan Aldridge, Director of Training at the Adaptive Training Academy and CrossFit Level 2 coach.

Ultimately, the double under comes down to timing and rhythm.

Double Under Benefits

Besides improving your conditioning, doubles unders can improve your:

• Speed
• Coordination
• Accuracy
• Power
• Balance
• Body control
• Strength, especially when combined with other exercises in a workout

For novice athletes, rope skipping is a great exercise to teach body control and improve coordination.

General Tips for Double Unders

“The most simplistic explanation on how to master double unders, triple unders, quadruple unders, whatever, is it’s all a matter of timing and rhythm,” said Logan, who is one of the Fittest Upper Extremity athletes and flawlessly performs triple unders.

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No matter who you are, the first thing you want to talk about when jumping rope, mastering double unders or even trying triple unders is getting rid of the rope. “There should be no external object involved,” says Logan.

Most people trying double unders don’t know how to properly bounce up and down while keeping their bodies straight and using their calves to get an effective and efficient rebound.

“Most CrossFitters that are trying to learn double unders have not figured out that part, so that’s where I start, with everyone,” says Logan.

Improving Your Jumping Progressions

Before athletes start with jump ropes they must be able to jump efficiently.

This starts with little, short, small bounces on the spot.  Once that looks neat (timing and rhythm look good) try 10 of the highest bounces you can do while keeping your body as straight as possible.

This is where you can identify comfort and ability bouncing high – athletes uncomfortable with this look like they’re about to try a one-rep max and are straining too much, this isn’t the right stimulus.

“Whenever I see that, if I’m in a coaching environment, adaptive or not, I immediately put the jump rope down,” says Logan. “If you’re doing this, your idea of what double unders feels like is completely wrong.”

• Start with plate hops – these plate hops will look different from what you’d see in a workout, where you’re trying to get as many in as possible, because athletes aren’t focusing on form but trying instead to move their feet fast. Plate hops for practicing double unders require you to keep a straight body, with a little bit of knee flexion, and bounce just from your calves.

“I like to see a minute of unbroken plate hops before I move to the next drill,” says Logan.

• Add audible timing – with your arms or arm by your side, do some jumps in the air while creating an audible cue, so you train your brain to relate to the sound of a rope passing in front of you and touching the ground. Typically, that sound happens almost when you’re at the peak of your jump, so try to jump and tap your side at the peak of your jump.

Do this for 20 to 30 reps, rest a little and then do the same thing while trying to bounce a little higher and doing double taps.

• Move on to single unders – once you’ve learnt what it feels like to bounce from the calves you can progress to single unders.

“Two minutes of unbroken single unders is my general rule to show ultimate proficiency,” says Logan. “If you can do two minutes of single unders, you show you have the stamina and the conditioning and the muscular endurance to bounce, and enough power to do so for that period of time.

“From a physiological perspective, you can do double unders, now we just need to get the timing and biomechanics of the movement together.”

Double Unders For Upper Extremity Adaptive Athletes

More than ability level, upper extremity adaptive athletes are limited by the equipment when it comes to double unders.

A Mono Rope is a modified version of a normal jump rope that allows athletes to jump rope using only one had, whether left or right.

With this tool in place, upper extremity athletes can replicate the stimulus and movement pattern of a double under with a standard jump rope.

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Mono Rope Technique

“The cue that I often give with the Mono Rope is that you’re shining your belt buckle with your knuckles,” says Logan. “That creates that little subtle type of circular motion with your hand right in front of your pelvic bone, and that is the technique for the single arm jump rope.”

The only progression from there is the rhythm and timing of the hand, whether it does one circle for a single under or two circles while you’re in the air for double unders.

Again, none of this is important if an athlete can’t bounce efficiently.

Starting and Ending the Movement

“Focusing on the totality of executing the jump rope helps the participant gain more confidence and just feel better prepared and experienced for all aspects of it; the start, middle and the finish,” says Logan.

1. Start with the jump rope placed neatly on the floor and step into the loop, when you pick up the handle the cable should be behind your heels.
2. Do a little flick to flush the rope out from behind your heels, so it moves to the back of your calves.
3. Bring the rope over once, doing a single under, and then go into double unders.
4. When you stop, practice stopping by landing, lifting your toes, letting the rope come under your toes and pull the rope tight.
5. When you’re done, lay the handles down in front of you so that the rope is ready for the next set of jumping, this way you maximise efficiency and ensure smooth transitions.

Double Unders For Lower Extremity Adaptive Athletes

For lower limb athletes, getting used to the rhythm of a different bounce, elevation, landing, balance and everything else that comes along with getting accustomed to a prosthetic makes skipping rope even harder than usual.

Additionally, because the native anatomy of lower extremity athletes isn’t predisposed to performing continuous bounce and absorb shock, the stimulus for doing double unders, especially as an above-the-knee amputee, is very different.

Therefore, the general rule of thumb if you’re training to improve your fitness and if doing a double under is not your absolute goal, is to stick to single unders during training as they offer a better stimulus.

“There are numerous above-knee amputees that I know of that can do double unders and they do them well,” says Longan. “But they absolutely don’t get the same stimulus as someone with two legs, or even a below-knee amputee with a prosthetic.”

Generally, for above-knee amputees, the focus would be on single unders as they offer better speed, stimulus, and better use of each athlete’s native anatomy without overtraining the calf or a single leg.

“People are definitely capable, but that’s not what we’re trying to encourage the world to do,” says Logan.

If your goal is to achieve double unders, then the advice and progressions at the start of the article still apply.

Ensure you stick to the movement standards and good luck!

The CrossFit Open workout 21.2 is a repeat of 17.1 and features a couplet of dumbbell snatches and burpee box jump overs.

“21.2 for Adaptive divisions is going to be very similar to age group divisions,” said Alec Zirkenbach, Executive Director at the Adaptive Training Academy. “There’s going to be a couplet between some form of dumbbell snatch and burpees.

“The dumbbell snatch is going to be ascending and the burpees will remain at 15 reps, so no change to the repetitions, to the flow, or the time cap for anything in Adaptive divisions.”

Source: Courtesy of ATA

“For the burpee, the only division that is going to be doing the actual burpee box jump over as the age-group divisions is going to be the upper extremity division. Every one of the other adaptive divisions is going to be doing some other form of burpee,” said Alec.

“Please make sure if you’re judging athletes in different divisions, you know the differences and movement standards for that burpee for the different divisions.”

Source: Courtesy of ATA

Have a look at the official Adaptive CrossFit Open scorecards here.

This is the first year Adaptive athletes have been able to officially participate in the CrossFit Open. A lot of thought has gone into how to appropriately scale the workouts for each adaptive division to ensure an inclusive but, most importantly, fair competition.

Movements have been scaled so as to “minimize the impact of the athletes’ impairment on their performance so the athletes’ fitness is ultimately tested, not their degree of impairment.”

Find out how to correctly submit your CrossFit Open workout score here.

Featured image: courtesy of Adaptive Training Academy, photo by 1st Phorm

Movements have been scaled so as to “minimize the impact of the athletes’ impairment on their performance so the athletes’ fitness is ultimately tested, not their degree of impairment.”

Find out how to complete 21.1 as an Adaptive athlete.

CrossFit Open workout 21.1 Adaptive – Upper Extremity

For time:

• 1 alternating lunge + burpee
• 10 double-unders
• 3 alternating lunges + burpees
• 30 double-unders
• 6 alternating lunges + burpees
• 60 double-unders
• 9 alternating lunges + burpees
• 90 double-unders
• 15 alternating lunges + burpees
• 150 double-unders
• 21 alternating lunges + burpees
• 210 double-unders

Time cap: 15 min.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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MOVEMENT STANDARDS

Alternating Lunges + Burpee

• The athlete begins each lunge standing tall with their feet together.
• One repetition of the alternating lunge + burpee requires a lunge on one leg followed by a lunge on the other leg and then a burpee.
• If time is called prior to the completion of the entire sequence, that repetition will not count.
• The trailing knee must make contact with the ground at the bottom of each lunge.
• The lunge is complete when both feet are brought back together.
• The athlete must perform one lunge on each leg for the alternating lunge repetition to count.
• Stepping forward or backward is allowed, but athletes must use the same direction for the entire workout (i.e., forward or reverse lunges).
• The athlete may begin the burpee after completing the lunges.
• The burpee begins with the athlete standing tall.
• The athlete may step and/or jump back to reach the bottom position.
• Chest and thighs must touch the ground at the bottom.
• Stepping and/or jumping back to the starting position are both permitted.
• The rep is credited when the athlete’s:
  • feet leave the ground; and
  • hand(s) are overhead; and
  • hand(s), head, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles are in a line vertically when the athlete is viewed from profile.
• Each set of alternating lunges + burpee counts as 1 repetition.

Double-Under

• The rope passes under the feet twice for each jump.
• The rope must spin forward for the rep to count.
• Only successful jumps are counted, not attempts.
• For equipment, a monorope or other modifications to jump rope equipment (e.g., strapping the handle to the forearm) are permitted.

Full movement standards here.

This is the first year Adaptive Athletes will officially be able to participate in the Open – previously, WheelWOD organised the unaffiliated WheelWOD Open. Yet making it happen wasn’t was simple as merely saying “let’s do this,” and the people behind the process have worked tirelessly to ensure the event is as competitive as possible while maintaining a fair competition.

These leaders are part of the Adaptive Training Academy (ATA), an organisation focused on education around adaptive training, and WheelWOD, a platform dedicated to providing competitive adaptive fitness to coaches and athletes for close to a decade.

Source: ATA

The driving force behind adaptive divisions in the CrossFit Open

Alec Zirkenbach, Logan Aldridge, Chris Stoutenburg and Kevin Ogar are the original team members of CrossFit’s Adaptive Training Speciality Course (now a Preferred Course) and pioneered adaptive training and awareness in the CrossFit space.

“CrossFit is moving in a great direction for inclusion,” ATA’s Executive Director, Alec Zirkenbach told BOXROX. “And they have been inclusive; CrossFit is thought of as this big community, anybody can come in the door and do a workout. We can scale, we can do it for all people.

“But adaptive athletes have been kind of on the fringe of that for a long time.”

What has been missing so far is educated trainers and affiliates who know how to work with adaptive athletes (know how to communicate, have awareness, make sure the facility is prepared, and how to actually train athletes and adapt workouts safely and effectively in a group setting) and the opportunity to officially start the competition.

After a couple of years of formally contacting CrossFit asking for a chance to include adaptive athletes in the Open, the company got back to them in 2020 to discuss exactly how this could be done.

Establishing adaptive divisions for the sport of CrossFit

The term “Adaptive Athlete” encompasses an incredibly wide rage of abilities and impairments; within this umbrella fall athletes with intellectual disabilities, athletes with limb deficiencies, athletes with visual impairments, short stature athletes.

Even athletes with impairments that might look similar at first approach fitness differently.

In a sport like CrossFit, which essentially asks for everything in its athletes – ‘constantly varied’ as well as ‘unknow and unknowable’ are phrases often thrown around when describing the sport – adapting the workouts to fit all divisions to create an inclusive competition while keeping it fair requires a fair bit of though.

Source: Bryson Buehrer

“It is very, very difficult to have an inclusive competition where many people can compete that have various ability levels, but also make it fair competition,” explained Alec. “Those two things are kind of like competing ends of the spectrum.”

For the 2021 CrossFit Open, the team behind WheelWOD and ATA tried their best to strike the balance.

Lessons from WheelWOD and the Paralympics

Drawing from the lessons learnt during the WheelWOD Games and Wodapalooza – which was the first major CrossFit sanctioned competition to include adaptive categories – the team set out to establish the classification system for the Adaptive division in the CrossFit Open.

“We gained lots of experience through [Chris Stoutenburg’s] WheelWOD Open and especially through Wodapalooza, where you can actually see all the athletes competing and making sure the adjustments you’re making and the divisions make sense,” said Alec.

“Then we took the bones of Paralympic competition, which uses 10 eligible impairments,” he continued. Impairments are what makes athletes eligible to compete in the Adaptive division and all 10 have been included for CrossFit.

Lessons from the community

As well as using the knowledge gained during established competitions, the ATA held four Town Hall meetings where anyone involved with adaptive sport could join and discuss the creation of Adaptive divisions for the CrossFit Open.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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They included hundreds of people, from trainers, athletes and family members to people from other sports who were simply interested. The feedback they provided proved invaluable: “I don’t think we could have been where we’re at now without it,” said Alec.

Lessons from the Town Halls included:

1. Perspective: learning how some movements can affect certain adaptive athletes disproportionally, where they would struggle more with overcoming their disability than being able to test their fitness.
2. Classification and eligibility: with a competition as large as the CrossFit Open, classification and eligibility require a greater amount of specificity than used so far for Wodapalooza and the WheelWOD Open.
3. Understanding: gaining insight into where people would fit into the newly created divisions, especially the neurological division as it includes such a wide spectrum of impairments.
4. Confidence: while the ATA offers certifications, they continue to learn and educate themselves and try to improve. Opening these discussions to the community helped build confidence in the project and reassure participants that the people at the top are always open to feedback, criticism and other views.

“We’re learning ourselves,” Logan Aldridge, ATA’s Director of Training said. “We’re constantly learning and educating ourselves and trying to improve. We’re always open to feedback or criticism or other views.”

Having these Town Halls meetings made the team feel they’re starting this new stage in the sport of CrossFit right.

Using their experience and input from the community, the new CrossFit Adaptive Athlete Policy was created, establishing eight divisions in which adaptive athletes can compete.

The Adaptive competition divisions include:

• Adaptive: Upper Extremity
• Adaptive: Lower Extremity
• Adaptive: Neuromuscular
• Adaptive: Vision
• Adaptive: Short Stature
• Adaptive: Seated Athletes (with hip function)
• Adaptive: Seated Athletes (without hip function)
• Adaptive: Intellectual

“We’re very thankful that CrossFit was open to accepting those eight divisions the first year because nobody really knows how many people are going to sign up,” Alec said.

“I think we’re as prepared as possible,” he continued. “I do know that there are going to be people that are left out – that’s just the way it is with any adaptive competition of any sport. They are going to be people that are on the fringe, that are maybe adaptive athletes but that don’t qualify.

“There’s many people that maybe can’t complete the workouts because of a weight or a movement. But we hope to be able to evolve to include all those individuals, or as many people as possible, while keeping it a fair competition.”

He also attributed to the fact that the eight divisions might change and grow over time if there is significant demand.

“The athletes and the registration are going to push the divisions and the changes that happen in the competition,” said Alec. “Just the same way they did with the masters divisions and teens divisions.”

Source: Courtesy of ATA

Programming for The Adaptive CrossFit Open

The intention of the CrossFit Open has always been to start the path that leads to finding the Fittest on Earth. The same holds true for the Adaptive divisions, so all workouts have been programmed “to minimise the impact of the athletes’ impairment on their performance,” as established in the Adaptive Policy.

“We take what CrossFit has provided us for the Open workouts and then we look at each of those movements,” explained Chris Stoutenburg, WheelWOD’s President. “Sometimes the movements might not be the same as what CrossFit has put out because of the level of difficulty.”

“Or for say Logan [an above the elbow athlete] versus somebody else below elbow; if we try to just mimic that movement or just adapt that movement by changing weights, it won’t come out the same way. There will just be a much clearer advantage to one impairment than the other.

“And we’re really trying to find the fittest, not the least disabled.”

While there are no age groups or scaled options for the adaptive divisions yet, there is space for athletes to submit a modification request for every workout should they require additional assistance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Going Forward: Adaptive Divisions in the CrossFit Competitive Season

In future, subject to demand, the Open will be the first stage to getting adaptive athletes to compete at the CrossFit Games.

As these new divisions evolve, new spot classes and age divisions might be added, just like the WheelWOD Games progressed: “As demand of the athletes came along, we grew our divisions,” said Chris. “But we didn’t want to run competitions where there was three people competing and everybody would get a spot on the podium. We wanted them to be viable.”

Therefore, if you are an adaptive athlete or know someone who is, make sure you sign up. Even if you know you’re likely to have to scale most workouts, the aim is to improve.

“Don’t be a bystander. Don’t sit outside and look at it and say, ‘OK, I’ll do that next year,’ go ahead and sign up now,” Logan encourages all athletes. “Yes, there may be workouts that are a little bit too difficult to submit and you can’t get on the leaderboard, but now you’re seeing what this world looks like.”

There are plenty of reasons to sign up for the CrossFit Open, now it’s time for adaptive athletes to show they want the platform.

“We want to get to the point where adaptive athletes are just commonplace, where we’re just somebody else in the gym doing awesome stuff,” said Alec.

Logan echoes his vision: “I hope that in ten years from now, if you’re someone living with a permanent impairment of any sort and you have aspirations or the desire to be a professional athlete in whatever sport – whether it’s CrossFit or not – you see a path to that and there is a platform for you and there’s a real opportunity.”

Featured image: photo by Alec Zirkenbach 

The 2021 Open is shaping up to be the most inclusive in CrossFit history; with Equipment-Free and Foundation categories being introduced for the first time. It’s also the first year Adaptive Divisions have been included — and offers a chance for adaptive athletes to prove that this is a category that belongs in the Open alongside all the able-bodied ones.

What will the Adaptive Division look like in the 2021 CrossFit Open?

Pioneered by WheelWOD’s Chris Stoutenburg and the Adaptive Training Academy (ATA) alongside CrossFit HQ, the Adaptive Division includes eight subdivisions — further split into Men and Women — and is open to athletes age 14 and up. The adaptive divisions for the 2021 CrossFit Games season are allocated as follows:

• Men and Women Adaptive: Upper Extremity
• Men and Women Adaptive: Lower Extremity
• Men and Women Adaptive: Neuromuscular
• Men and Women Adaptive: Vision
• Men and Women Adaptive: Short Stature
• Men and Women Adaptive: Seated Athletes (with hip function)
• Men and Women Adaptive: Seated Athletes (without hip function)
• Men and Women Adaptive: Intellectual

Creating these eight categories and making them both inclusive and competitive without scaling is tricky process, with inspiration and learnings drawn from WheelWOD’s experience with the adaptive competition circuit and the Paralympics.

 

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“We made sure it’s as fair as possible.” ATA’s Executive Director Alec Zirkenbach told BOXROX, “We’re trying to find that balance between inclusion and having a good amount of athletes be able to do the workout without having a scaled division, but also make it super competitive because it needs to be a fair, legitimate competition.”

Read more: The Full Story: How the Adaptive CrossFit Open Came to Be

Why should Adaptive athletes sign up?

Despite the Open workouts being competitive and having an air of difficulty about them, adaptive athletes should consider signing up anyway. Right now it’s important to show CrossFit that adaptive athletes are hungry for it, and prove this is a category that can grow and thrive within CrossFit.

“It’s kind of weird, but I think the important message is the big picture,” CrossFit athlete and ATA’s Director of Training, Logan Aldridge told BOXROX, “Like where are we going to be in five or ten years?”

 

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While the inclusion of the Adaptive Division in the Open seems like the natural progression of a growing and enthusiastic community within the CrossFit and functional fitness space, it’s still very important that the number of sign ups reflect that. 

“If we can make sure that participation is there, we’re not so worried about the performance. We will have competitive athletes. The divisions will be competitive. But I think that’s the biggest ask to prospective participants is, hey, don’t be a bystander.”

“Don’t sit outside and look at it and say, OK, I’ll do that next year — go ahead and sign up now. And yes, there may be workouts that are a little bit too difficult to submit and you can’t get on the leaderboard. But now you’re seeing what this world looks like.”

 

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For Alec and Chris, 2021 is only the beginning. They have some lofty goals for the future, and hope to introduce age groups and further splits within the subdivisions to make the competition even fairer — but all of that relies on good sign-up numbers for the 2021 CrossFit Open.

“What we need is athletes,” Alec tells us. “We need adaptive athletes to register. They have to register, or else nothing is going to change. So this is their opportunity to compete and show that they want this platform.”

So what are you waiting for? Sign up for the 2021 CrossFit Open now!

Read More: Check Out Two of The Fittest Adaptive Athletes as They Take on a Competition CrossFit Class

Featured image: photo by Iko PB

During the first episode Logan works out with Casey Acree, Worlds Fittest Adaptive Athlete in 2018 – his ‘best friend and nemesis in adaptive fitness.’

The two athletes take on a competition class featuring the 2020 CrossFit Games workout Friendly Fran, and walk viewers through how they adapt the exercises from an above elbow and below elbow perspective.

The series (at the moment) is a passion project by the Adaptive Training Academy (ATA), a veteran-managed organisation who hopes “to challenge the status quo so that people with disabilities have equal access to fitness training and a healthy life.”

“The Train w/ Me show is part entertainment and part education as you get to watch Logan train with other Adaptive Athletes and explore how people with all kinds of abilities have become masters of their sport or fitness training,” said ATA Executive Director Alec Zirkenbach.

“Each episode Logan will try out a new training program or system. One week he’s crushing a WOD in a CrossFit workout with his top rival, the next he’s training with a one-armed powerlifter and going heavy on everything, and the next he’s put to the test with the University of Alabama’s championship wheelchair basketball team S&C coach!”

Check it out!

Train w/ Me Episode 1

2021 is the first year adaptive athletes can officially compete in the CrossFit Open, and you should definitely sign up.

For more resources for athletes, coaches, trainers and therapists check out the Adaptive Training Academy certification courses and WheelWOD’s adaptive programming on SugarWOD.

Featured image: photos by 1st Phorm

“CrossFit is committed to ensuring all CrossFit athletes have equal access and opportunity to participate in CrossFit events in a manner that is fair to all competitors while preserving the integrity of the sport,” the Rulebook reads.

 

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CrossFit was in conversation with WheelWOD, a programming and competition platform that aims to make all forms of fitness adaptable and accessible for everyone, and the Adaptive Training Academy, organization dedicated to providing adaptive fitness education, to include adaptive athletes in its competition season.

Read more: The Full Story: How the Adaptive CrossFit Open Came to Be

The adaptive divisions for the 2021 CrossFit Games season are allocated as follows:

• Men and Women Adaptive: Upper Extremity
• Men and Women Adaptive: Lower Extremity
• Men and Women Adaptive: Neuromuscular
• Men and Women Adaptive: Vision
• Men and Women Adaptive: Short Stature
• Men and Women Adaptive: Seated Athletes (with hip function)
• Men and Women Adaptive: Seated Athletes (without hip function)
• Men and Women Adaptive: Intellectual

There are currently no age divisions within the adaptive divisions, but athletes must have a competition age of 14 years old as of July 14, 2021.

Athletes with disabilities will be classified into these divisions as to “minimize the impact of the athletes’ impairment on their performance so the athletes’ fitness is ultimately tested, not their degree of impairment,” reads the Rulebook.

The following impairments will determine an athlete’s eligibility for competition in the adaptive divisions:

• Ataxia
• Athetosis
• Hypertonia
• Impaired Passive Range of Movement
• Impaired Muscle Power
• Limb Deficiency
• Leg Length Difference
• Vision Impairment
• Short Stature
• Intellectual Disability

Important note from the Rulebook: “It is important to note the requirement to possess an eligible permanent impairment is a prerequisite to participate in the adaptive divisions in CrossFit competitions but not the sole criterion. Conversely, the presence of a significant and permanent impairment not listed as one of the eligible impairments for competition (e.g., deafness) does not define an adaptive athlete in general but rather defines the eligibility for competition in CrossFit events for the 2021 season. Changes to eligibility may occur as the adaptive competition grows in future years.”

Athletes may be eligible for multiple sport classes under the current eligibility and classification descriptions, if that is the case, each athlete must choose the sport class and competition division that best represents their ability and places them in a category amongst like peers to maintain a fair competition.

You can read the full 2021 CrossFit Games Adaptive Athlete Policy, including eligibility details,  here.

Víctor Assaf: The Face of Adaptive CrossFit in Latin America

 

 

 

 

 

 

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1. Equipment-free option for the CrossFit Open

Athletes around the world without access to equipment will be able to participate in the 2021 CrossFit Open under the Equipment-Free division.

CrossFit will offer a version of each Open workout that doesn’t require any equipment and, while athletes competing in this division won’t be able to advance to the Quarterfinals (the new qualifying route to the CrossFit Games) and beyond, it does mean everybody in the world can compete regardless of local restrictions, access to gym equipment or safety concerns.

The Open will also feature a “Foundations” leaderboard, for athletes who aren’t able to complete the Open workouts as prescribed or scaled.

The 2021 CrossFit Open is a three-week virtual competition and community event for CrossFit athletes around the world. Registration begins on Jan. 7 and the first workout of the Open will take place on March 11, 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Learn more about other Open changes for 2021

2. Adaptive athletes will be able to participate in the Open

For the first time CrossFit has introduced adaptive divisions to its competitive season.

“CrossFit is committed to ensuring all CrossFit athletes have equal access and opportunity to participate in CrossFit events in a manner that is fair to all competitors while preserving the integrity of the sport,” the Rulebook reads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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There are eight divisions which adaptive athletes can choose from and each will host its own leaderboard.

The 2021 CrossFit Open adaptive divisions are:

• Men and Women Adaptive: Upper Extremity
• Men and Women Adaptive: Lower Extremity
• Men and Women Adaptive: Neuromuscular
• Men and Women Adaptive: Vision
• Men and Women Adaptive: Short Stature
• Men and Women Adaptive: Seated Athletes (with hip function)
• Men and Women Adaptive: Seated Athletes (without hip function)
• Men and Women Adaptive: Intellectual

There are currently no age divisions within the adaptive divisions.

Learn more about the introduction of adaptive divisions in the CrossFit competitive season

3. Sanctionals are gone, replaced by Quarterfinals and Semifinals defined by continents

In an attempt to provide more coherence to the CrossFit Games competitive season and bring back the good aspects of Regionals, CrossFit has reinvented the competitive season and CrossFit Games qualification process.

The first stage of competition is still the CrossFit Open, but top ranked athletes will then advance to the Quarterfinals and Semifinals, with the season culminating with the CrossFit Games.

The world has been split into six competitive continents, which will determine where each athlete will compete during the Quarterfinals and the Semifinals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Following the Open, the top 10% of individual athletes and 25% of teams in each continent will qualify to the Quarterfinals. The Quarterfinals are an online qualifying event spanning one weekend immediately following the Open.

Details about the Semifinals are still being finalised and will be released soon.

From a previous announcement we know there will be:

• Ten in-person semifinal events hosted by CrossFit partners across six continents, ensuring at least one athlete from each continent qualifies for the Games. Each event will operate under strict safety protocols, including contingency plans for an online competition depending on local conditions and restrictions.
• A “last chance” qualifier for athletes who narrowly missed the cut in semifinals.
• A live and in-person Games finals the week of July 26 for all qualifying athletes and teams in Madison, Wisconsin, with online contingency plans, if needed.

Learn more about the CrossFit Games Continent Divisions and Quarterfinals

4. The Affiliate Cup is back

The Affiliate Cup is a team competition that celebrates and awards teams of four – two men and two women – training in the same CrossFit-affiliated gym.

The team competition, in essence, determines the fittest CrossFit Affiliate starting with the Open, the Quarterfinals, Semifinals and ultimately the CrossFit Games.

The Affiliate Cup became an official team competition for the first time in 2009, but the team competition has evolved with time, with the Sanctionals format the past two years allowing any four athletes (two men and two women) to form a team and qualify to the Games, regardless of their training location.

For the 2021 CrossFit competitive season, athletes primarily training at the same affiliate no later than January 1 will be able to join a team.

Affiliates can enter more than one team to the Affiliate Cup as long as all members of each team consistently train in that affiliate. Switching between teams is not allowed.

Learn more about the Affiliate Cup

5. New online qualifier for age group athletes

The format of the Age Group Online Qualifier has also changed for the 2021 CrossFit competitive season, with top 10% of age-group athletes worldwide in each age division (based on total number of athletes registered per age division after 21.1) qualifying to compete in the Age-Group Online Qualifier.

Previously, only the top 200 age group athletes were invited to participate at the Age Group Online Qualifier and only the top 10 athletes in each age group division qualified to compete in the CrossFit Games.

For this year the competitive field for the Games has grown, with the top 20 men and top 20 women in each age group division (including teenage divisions) qualifying to compete at the Games.

The Online Qualifier workouts will be released on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. PT. Age-group athletes will have until Monday, May 10, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. PT, to submit their scores and/or videos for these workouts.

Source: Photo courtesy of CrossFit Inc.

Learn more about Age Group changes for 2021

In a conversation with Talking Elite Fitness, CrossFit CEO Eric Roza revealed the company’s plans to include these new divisions in the upcoming Open.

“We are doing the work so that we are able to have separate adaptive athlete categories in the Open,” Roza said. “I’m just getting educated on this. There are a lot of different categories of adaptive athletes, and so I can’t say we’re going to nail it the first time around, but we’re going to make steps in the right direction.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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CrossFit has been in conversation with WheelWOD, a programming and competition platform that aims to make all forms of fitness adaptable and accessible for everyone, and the Adaptive Training Academy, organization dedicated to providing adaptive fitness education, to make this happen.

More information to follow.

The CrossFit Open is a five-week virtual competition and community event for CrossFit athletes around the world. The 2021 Open is set to start on February 18.

The Open is designed to be accessible to everyone from beginners to professionals across all ages, backgrounds, and levels of fitness.

The competition serves as the global entry point in qualifying for the CrossFit Games. Anyone who is at least 14 years old can sign up and join in the first stage of the CrossFit Games season.

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More recently, Amalia also won the Adaptive Rx Seated division at Wodapalooza, where she competed against seven other women and won four of the seven workouts, and was a runner up in the other three.

Box Latino Magazine had the pleasure to talk with this impressive athlete, below the full interview:

Who is Amalia Ortuño?

I’m 34-years-old and am an interior designer. Nowadays I also practise adaptive CrossFit.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Ok6hEHEfg/

Tell us a little about your disability.

I’ve got a disease called evolutionary hip dysplasia, which is a progressive degenerative condition.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Qx-WOndpd/

What has your sporting life been like?

I was a ballerina and a gymnast at a young age, I also practised swimming and athletics. After that I moved on to triathlons and I’m now fully committed to adaptive CrossFit.

What’s your training as a CrossFit athlete like?

My preparations involve single CrossFit sessions some days. Other days I do two or three session, and combine them with swimming and wheelchair sessions. I increase loads according to competition dates and have clear goals.

Related: Víctor Assaf: The Face of Adaptive CrossFit in Latin America

What was your experience like at Wodapalooza?

That was an incredible and challenging experience. It allowed me to meet and share with great people and outstanding athletes.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B88GVJvHE6k/

What are your plans for 2020?

Next up I’m competing at FitLand in Colombia. It’s a competition that excites me a lot, as it leaves a positive message about inclusion and perspective, as we compete side by side against able-bodies athletes.

In June I’ve got to defend my title at the WheelWOD Games in Minnesota.

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And in November I’ve got the Copa Independencia in Costa Rica, another competition which opened an adaptive division in 2019.

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To finish off, Amalia asked the Latin American community to always be persevering, follow their dreams no matter how high they might be and, most importantly, to live life to the fullest.

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A version of this article was originally published in Spanish by Box Latino Magazine, a publication covering athletes, coaches and events in the Latin American region. The original article was written by Nicolás Garzón, the BOXROX version translated by Caro Kyllmann. You can find the original version here.

BOXROX has partnered with Box Latino Magazine to grow the coverage of the Latino CrossFit community. If you’re a Spanish speaking reader or interested in knowing more about the scene in Latin America consider giving them a follow @boxlatinomagazine.

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Box Latino Magazine had the chance to talk to this great athlete, and their conversation covers Víctor’s preparations as an adaptive athlete, his car crash, the road to recovery and his hopes and dreams.

You can read the full interview below:

Who is Víctor Assaf?

“Well, I’m a motivational speaker, an athlete, a coach, an entrepreneur and one could say someone pretty disciplined and serious.

“I’m 30-years-old and have been a full-time CrossFit athlete for over 10 years, six as a competitor and four as a professional.

“I deliver motivational talks nationally and internationally and I’ve got my own clothing branding, which I’m currently in the process of growing, hopefully to a worldwide level.”

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You had a car crash a while ago, was your recovery process like?

“Yes, I had a motorcycle accident seven years ago, which caused a total brachial plexus tearing and that’s how I lost sensibility and mobility on my right arm.

“I was put into a coma for five days in an attempt to treat all jaw injuries and mitigate the risks of a haemorrhage or brain damage.

“The recovery process was extremely long because I wasn’t only trying to recover physically but there was a big psychological toll too. I had not only suffered an accident, but I had to go through the realisation that my life had changed completely.

“I had to re-learn how to write, walk, stabilise myself. Shower, get dressed, eat, sleep, talk. I had to adapt to it and accept it all; and it wasn’t only a problem regarding what had happened but also how I looked.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7HkuVbp6UJ/

Why did you decide to take on CrossFit?

“I did CrossFit way before the accident, around three years perhaps. The main reason back then was a family member, who insisted I take on CrossFit after some health issues I experienced caused by a third party.

“I was spiked and drugged with scopolamine at a party. I lost consciousness and it resulted in an overdose. My flat was broken into, etc…

“I started doing sport, specifically CrossFit, because I read sweating loads was best way to remove those toxins from the body. That was the start.”

What’s your programming like as an adaptive athlete?

“It’s not too different to a normal Games athlete program. It comprises a warmup, strength, Olympic weightlifting, three WODs, gymnastics, skills, mobility, between other things.

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“There are no shortcuts. And if you find them, they’re probably banned by the rules.

“Not everything happens inside a box. The important thing is to make the unknown look simple, regardless of the effort that you put in, the reward is always greater when the work is CLEAN.

“I’m very lucky but at the same time I’ve put in a lot of effort to get to where I am and be part of a team of top athletes known worldwide as wheelwod.”

Tell us more about Team Cyborgs?

“Team Cyborgs, woah! Comprised of Amalia Ortuño from Costa Rica, Pipe Maturana from Chile, Andrés Arana from Costa Rica, Titi Salas – who’s not an adaptive athlete – from Costa Rica and myself.

“It was born through an idea, which was to compete in a normal event with able-bodied athletes without derogating or belittling athletes with special limitations or setting them aside. That could add value to the competition, as well as motivate and prove that anything is possible.

“Once it gained momentum it became unstoppable. We’re the face of Latin America in the adaptive world, and everyone wants to know about it. Nowadays, everyone wants to add adaptive divisions, yet its true that not everyone can or knows how to.

“Team Cyborgs will continue to surprise Latin America, CrossFit and the world so, if I were you, I’d keep my eyes out for us. In 2020 we’re hoping to revolutionise inclusiveness in the sport globally.”

What was that process like with FitLand in Colombia?

“It started with an idea our manager, Andrés Arana, had. He contacted the organisers and they started thinking about ways to add this category within the RX category.

“The only difference was that we wouldn’t compete as a team that time, but as individuals within our own capacities.”

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What are your thoughts on the Open workouts for FitLand?

“They were very good. I repeated 19.1, which was 20.1 now, and it was great but exhausting.

“20.2 was very dynamic in its movements and 20.3 was my favourite. It wasn’t only the movements but also the challenge it presented to try and do the push presses unbroken, which I almost managed. I had great fun.

“The parameters for the workouts came from wheelwod and adaptivetraining, so it was Andrés, Christopher and Alec who created them.”

What has your inclusion process been like with regard to CrossFit?

“It has been a long process – it’s a trajectory that’s taken years. It’s not been easy, as adaptive CrossFit is something relatively new to me.

“I say relatively because I only discovered WheelWod a few years ago, but I’ve spent seven years training, teaching and adapting with only the help of my close friends or seminars I attended.

“CrossFit gave me a new light and brought me out of many negative steps, it opened up a career path and allowed me to become a better person every day.

“The normal competitions have always been a challenge for me, as my condition is different to everyone else’s, but I never took a step back. I competed against everyone else here in Ecuador and abroad, being the only one on the competition floor with a “disability”.

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“But I never felt I was beneath anyone; instead, it felt to me like I was setting the parameters and – sorry I put it this way – people always said “the man uses his balls even with a disability.”

“I’ve always been someone with a strong character and it goes to show that, if there’s a will, there’s a way. Attitude is everything in life, everything!

“Sadly, sponsorship isn’t around for me geographically, as only football players and pretty women get support… the rest isn’t of interest and for many brands it’s hard to sponsor someone when they’re based abroad.

“I’ve fought and continue to fight to try and get brands to work with me long-term, so we can mutually help each other. I feel I have a lot to offer as an athlete, motivational speaker, coach and competitor.

“But many just want to gift you a free tee-shirt and for you to essentially sell your soul – that’s not how things work. I take advantage of this interview to call out to brands within the sport of CrossFit, so we can work together to inspire and teach, everyone needs it.

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Víctor Assaf closed off with a message to the Latin American community:

“Nothing lasts forever; act today, do today what you didn’t do yesterday. Be it training, being thankful, resting, working, loving… Whatever it is, don’t give up.

“We Latinos are known for something, and that something is our grit and determination to fight and move forward. Forget the fact that this is sport; take instead the attitude you have in CrossFit and apply it to your daily life.

“Just like you wouldn’t want to skip a rep or how you want to get a PR, you should confront your life and your reality equally. Nobody wants to live in the “what would have been”.

“Everybody wants to tell you about the experience, don’t let them, live it yourself! Put your head up and move forward, this is only the beginning.”

–

This article was originally published in Spanish by Box Latino Magazine, a publication covering athletes, coaches and events in the Latin American region. The original article was written by Nicolás Garzón, the BOXROX version translated by Caro Kyllmann. You can find the original version here.

BOXROX has partnered with Box Latino Magazine to grow the coverage of the Latino CrossFit community. If you’re a Spanish speaking reader or interested in knowing more about the scene in Latin America consider giving them a follow @boxlatinomagazine.

“They don’t want nothing granted. They don’t need your compassion, they don’t need us to pity them. They don’t want to be looked at differently. They’re just other athletes. They’re just enjoying the challenge. So, you don’t have to save them some “no-reps” calls, even if those are their last reps of the wod. Don’t feel ashamed for them, treat’em right: if they deserve a no-rep, they won’t fire back at you, they will just say thank you. Because they’re learning just like you”.

Source: Gabriele Merlin

These words were just like a lifetime tattoo for those who had the privilege to be there, listening; they came from the voice of Luca Morassutto, Head Judge of Torino Challenge – Fitness Competition 2019, one of the most iconic Italian competitions, held in Turin last June. They sounded like an imprimatur: they have been pronounced in front of the entire Adaptive category and the whole judge’s equipe as a briefing before the first wod.

Seven adaptive athletes – 2 women and 5 men – listened to those words with proud, fire and honor in their hearts.

This challenge, one of the first and historical events in Italy, has been the first in the Country to officially open up to the Adaptive category: no exhibitions, no scaled adaptations of the RX’d versions of the wods, no discounts: just the same treatment of the other 350 athletes who were involved in the race.

Source: Gabriele Merlin

In front of over 5.000 people who came to see and cheer on their heroes, the 7 Adaptive athletes managed 5 wods across two days of racing, facing any sort of skill and movement: toes to bars, rowing, pistols, dumbell squats, snatches, push presses, cleans, rope climbs, box jumps and muscle-ups.

Giorgia, Alessandra, Lorenzo, Giorgio, Davide, Roby and Andrea ignited the crowd with something that never gets old for any CrossFit fan: the hustle, the passion and the commitment that overstretches results. Nothing new for anyone, just a back-to-the-roots moment that made everybody think about the origin of their personal motivation: “Why did I open that box’ door, that day? Easy: to overcome my limits and limitations. To be the best possible version of myself”. And that’s what an Adaptive athlete do. The same as you.

Source: Gabriele Merlin

Omar Lannunziata, owner at CrossFit Whitehand – one of the oldest box in Turin – and Torino Challenge’s manager, is the man behind this new chapter of the Italian CrossFit scene:

“When I had the idea to open my competition to the Italian Adaptive athletes, I knew that this category of 7 guys would give me more to do than the other 350. When you have to manage five wods for a group who is composed by men, women, seated, lower, adaptive beginners, scaled and RX athletes, all in the same minutes of work, you have to do something that could be fun for everybody but also challenging and, definitely, hard. And when this come to the adaptations, all your decisions have to cross the whole group of 7 in order to let them compete in a fair, close competition. At the end of day I think we did it. We learned more than what we teached. They enjoyed the competition and thousands of people came back home after viewing something they can tell to their friends at their own boxes. Spreading a word of more-will-than-skill attitude”.

Source: Gabriele Merlin

A different approach and different point of view comes from Luca “Red” Casciello, one of the most iconic coaches in Italy, owner of CrossFit La Mole:

“People have seen something incredible: seven forces of nature, giving all they have inside to do one more rep than the other. I, as a coach of one of them – Andrea De Beni – saw it totally different. I saw the mistakes, the non-correct timing of some movements, the wrong technique of a snatch, the improvable technique of something else. I, as a coach, didn’t see anything different than everybody’s else coach. This is the real, effective, inclusion: disability is in the eyes of who’s watching and I couldn’t see any disabilities right there, just athletes doing what athletes do”.

MY THOUGHTS ON THE COMPETITION

This time we were seven and we were a bunch of everything you can imagine for an Adaptive category. But the aim was to open a theoretic door to other athletes, to other competitions and to other coaches. The final goal is bigger than creating an Adaptive category: some of us, due to his/her kind of disability can compete at a high level also in standard categories, alongside able-bodied athletes. So, we have to work in order to give everybody all the range of possibilities: seated, lower and upper categories in all the competitions and real inclusion – without any adaptations – to all those athletes who don’t want to be the first among a few but not-the-last among many.”

We had to start somewhere and this was the best occasion possible, with the right approach: we didn’t need another exhibition, we needed an effective contest. We have been inside something bigger than us: not only a competition but a test of possibility, a great showcase with an amazing visibility; we don’t need to be at the center stage, we don’t want to be considered as super-heroes, we just need to be inside every single competition as a routine part of that.

Source: Gabriele Merlin

After the event, Omar Lannunziata has been called many times from other coaches and, more important, from other event’s managers. They asked information about every single detail.

Result: Italy will have more competitions that aren’t frightened to open their doors for adaptive athletes.

We want to close with a message, shared again by Luca Morassutto. With his “Project Judge”, the most important CrossFit judges organization in Italy, he has the opportunity to live the major part of the Italian events from the inside and personally knows every single event’s manager: “After last edition of Torino Challenge, I wrote a message to the event’s managers, sharing it through my social channels and across PJ’s official pages. I wrote them that they have to introduce the Adaptive category in their competition: it’s a no-brainer. Because it’s hard but possible, because they need more opportunities: they train daily and hard just as anyone and they deserve the possibility to engage the racing challenge that a CrossFit competition could be. Most of all, sharing their experience through competing, they can show the roots of CrossFit, they can tell that this sport is real and that everybody can do it, just participating and giving it all. Their experience could bring us to the another level in terms of visibility, showing the world the best part of CrossFit: the roots and the future can overlap”.

The Adaptive Games is a partnership between Academy Fitness, home of CrossFit Tretherras and the Battle of Britain Throwdown.

Academy Fitness is based in the largest secondary school in Cornwall. We are a Strength and Conditioning facility and CrossFit affiliate that provides support to the PE department, as well as delivering classes directly to students and staff.  During the evenings and weekends we run on a commercial basis in which all profits are re-invested back into our Health, Fitness & Well-being strategies for both the school and local community. 

We are to our knowledge the only school in the UK to have a dedicated Health, Fitness & Well-being company which is set up as a Community Interest Company.

Source: The Adaptive Games

The Battle of Britain Throwdown is a CrossFit and fitness competition which has been running for the past 5 years. Upon the request of Murray Hambro, a well know adaptive athlete on the UK circuit, we included an Adaptive Division for the first time last year. We saw a field of 10 athletes compete alongside all other divisions and essentially do the same workouts, with some tweaks and scales, as all the other athletes. As event organisers it was extremely worthwhile and rewarding to incorporate adaptive sport into our event. For the 2019 event we wanted to make it a bigger focus…

And this is where the partnership was born.

In April 2019 the competition will be run in partnership with Battle of Britain, held at the Staffordshire County Ground. The Adative Games will be the first stand alone adaptive competition in the UK.  The Adaptive Games will be delivered side by side the Battle of Britain competition and will use adapted versions of the Battle of Britain workouts developed by JST Compete.  The competition will run on Saturday 20^th April and athletes will take part in 4 workouts split into a seated and standing division.

Source: The Adaptive Games

We have developed a partnership with the ‘Crossroads Adaptive Athletic Alliance’ who are a US based charity who have been established for around 8 years and have been educating athletes and coaches with their seminars.  The team from Crossroads Alliance will be heading over for the Adaptive Games to assist with the running of the competition and to offer a seminar on the Sunday on how to program for adaptive athletes.  

We have big plans for The Adaptive Games and through the partnership with Crossroads Alliance and link s to organisations such as Invictus and Help 4 Heroes we aim to open up this contest globally and attract athlete worldwide.

We still have athlete places available. For more information please contact info@academyfitness.org or hello@boxlifeevents.co

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I’m Andrea, I’m 39 yrs old, married to Raffaella since 2009. We have two amazing daughters: Miriam, 7 and Tea, 3 years old. We live in Turin, in Piedmont: a northern Region of Italy. I was born without my right femur bone and I walk, run and play with a prosthetic since I was 2.

My life until I was 13 wasn’t really satisfying: when I woke up, the first thing I thought about myself was my leg, my difference between me and the other people, my not-so-appealing exteriority. I was shy, I didn’t like myself at all, I thought my leg was absolutely guilty for everything happened to me at that time. But, just as any other happy ending stories, a physical education teacher trusted me as anyone did before: he gave me a basketball, he taught me how to shoot, he explained me the rules of the game and I started playing as it was the only important thing in life.

I started a journey that endured 24 years, until I was 37. I played day and night, all days, for hours and hours. When you play a sport, you don’t think how many legs you have under your shorts: you’re just trying to score, to defend, to win, to play. This kind of approach was contagious: it started to join every aspects of my life and I started to think different. Now, when I wake up in the morning, I do not think about what’s missing: I think of everything else. The end of my career in basketball was playing alongside Marco Belinelli, Danilo Gallinari and Andrea Bargnani in the Italian National Team; we worked together to create a video called “Sport gives anyone a possibility”. So, as the beginning wasn’t so funny, I think the end was freakin’ awesome!

And where do you train?

Two years ago, at 37, after 24 years of basketball, I thought it was time to start another journey. I would like to begin something completely different: I would like to prove myself again, starting from the deep, trying to put myself in a corner. I already know what CrossFit was but I had to stop with everything else, to start with it. So, in april 2017, I met my coach Luca Casciello, at CrossFit La Mole, in Turin. CrossFit was what I was searching for: a brand new challenge with myself, with my limitations.

How did you get into CrossFit?

Alongside basketball, in the last ten years I founded team Garpez: the first Italian quad-racing team of handicapped riders. We got involved in national and international races all around Europe and, to be in the best shape possible to take part to those races, we trained on tracks, of course, but also at the gym. I loved it but it was also a little bit annoying: I started watching CrossFit videos on the internet and I start wondering “What if…”. So, when it was time to quit basketball, I decided to follow a friend of mine that made the same path one year before: I immediately fall in love with CrossFit.

What is your biggest achievement in CrossFit?

For a CrossFit athlete, this question should be always answered: “the next one”. After less than two years of CrossFit, when I look back to who I was and what I could do when I started, I can see so many results. Many things looked like semi-impossible, but with abnegation, sacrifice and – obviously – technique, I was able to do all the CrossFit skills, one after the other. But, if I look to the future, to what it’s expecting me, I see way too many things to come.

I think that who loves CrossFit, loves this simple fact: it doesn’t matter who you are, right now, you always can be better than today’s version of you; you always can do more reps, beat yourself, be faster, stronger… Better. I know that doing what I love, I can be an example, not only for other crossfitters: if when you see me doing CrossFit you think “If he can do those hellish things, I can do it myself too!”, well, I’ve really reached my goal. That is definitely my biggest, daily, achievement.

It is quite clear that you don’t let anything hold you back, how do your coaches help you with adapting WODs?

When I first met with my coach, Luca, at CrossFit La Mole, he told me: “Well, Andrea. I do not have any idea of how to do with you because it’s the first time I have a one-legged athlete in my box. But, I’m well prepared and we have enough will and passion to study, adapt, create, try, fail and correct. It would be hard, sometimes it won’t be nice, but we can reach great stuff, working together”.

It was easier than we thought. Some adaptations are hard but simple: most of the barbell skills come with a pistol, I can run, I can row with one leg, I can destroy myself on an assault-bike with only three limbs out of four and my missing leg doesn’t affect so much in the gymnastic part of the wods. If you have 100 kg on a Back squat 8RM exercise, my pistol-version of the back squats could be done with 50: we can maintain the original stimulus, adding some challenges from balance, for instance.

But the best thing is the social one: CrossFit is inclusive, I train with able-bodied guys, we push ourselves together. This is great and it’s the only one sport that allows that.

How would you explain the difference between scaling and adapting a workout?

Essentially, we can say that scaling is about “doing the same exercise, lighter than prescribed”: it’s an easier version of the original movement, maybe something that could represent the progression to reach the final goal of the RX’d. Adapting is different: is, in simple words, like giving the athlete the opportunity to reach the same goal, with the same stimulus, using another way or a different approach, a different movement.

My pistol-overhead-squats are the adaptation of the overhead squats: I maintain the same stimulus, I use less weight than the RX’d version, but with only one leg, for me, the movement is not lighter or easier. I love the term “Adaptive”: it’s really inclusive and it’s more than a word. It means you can work with handicapped people but also with temporary injured people.

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I love the fact that in CrossFit we are not defined by our bodies: we do not have “para-CrossFit” or “Handy-CrossFit” but just CrossFit. These are the rules, these are the skills and we have a map to adapt, scale and – obviously – adapt and scale together. The final goal of it is training together.

What is the toughest workout that you have ever done?

That’s a no-brainer! The answer is: the very first one of my life! Five minutes AMRAP of 10 wall balls and 10 burpees: “welcome into the world of CrossFit!”. I thought I was in a great shape, until that day: I laid on the ground for ten minutes, after that workout and my body ached for five days after that! When I think about that wod, I smile, right now, considering what I’m able to do today, but… We all have to start somewhere!

What tips would you give to Crossfitter that are nervous about competing for the first time?

My only tip is to not think about winning or losing. Just focus on the effort: it doesn’t matter how you finish, forget rankings. Those are Games’ athletes goals. For all the other tons of competitors around the world, there’s just one thing to know: the competition where you don’t learn anything about you, it has not been yet invented. It doesn’t count in which position you end the game: you’ll go home richer, stronger, smarter, more experienced than when you first arrive.

Remember what Mandela said: “I never lose. Sometimes I win, sometimes I learn”.

What are your future goals in CrossFit?

Expect the unexpected… CrossFit is giving me something new on a daily basis. Every day is a surprise, a fail, a brand new success: I’m thinking about becoming a coach, a trainer, I think my handicap could be an opportunity for my future athletes: I would love to be a kids’ coach, because with my experience, my example, we can also teach parents that CrossFit isn’t dangerous but it could be a great opportunity for tomorrow’s athletes.

Think about a one-legged coach who do all the movements you do, who never say “I can’t do it”: I know I can be an inspiration, a source of motivation, just naturally doing what I love to do. So, why do not “use” my body to inspire a new generation of athletes, not necessarily the “adaptive” ones?

Has CrossFit helped you in any other areas of your life, outside the Box?

CrossFit is not just a fitness thing. It’s mental-first. Everybody, on a physical basis, can practice CrossFit. I don’t think that anybody can do it, mentally.

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It’s a matter of behaviour, approach, hustle, challenge with yourself. But if you try you’ll never escape from one, fundamental, emotion: your ability to overcome limitations. CrossFit has taught me that practice and technique can bring you everywhere you want. Every single result, inside the box, has a counterpart in the real world, outside the box. I’m talking about self-confidence: when you can do something hard inside the box, your brain “clicks”: you start to believe in yourself a little bit more than the day before and this reflects on everything you do outside the box.

What do you think about all the recent changes to the 2019 CrossFit Games season?

I’ve followed with so much interest the two past editions. I’ve really appreciate the effort CrossFit Inc. has put in the show, to involve as many people as possible. But I think that changing a formula fits the spirit of CrossFit: be prepared to the unexpected. So, I think that some rules had to be changed, starting from the Regionals.

Now, many of us can challenge the future Fittest on Earth or other Games’ participants, during the CrossFit sanctioned events. Start from the basis, never forget where you started: this increase the relationship between CrossFit Inc. and the athletes.

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If you could coach a CrossFit world dream team (2 male athletes, 2 female athletes) who would you pick and why?

Sounds like the NBA Draft! Well… With the first pick I would love to select Tia Clair Toomey. She’s a winner. She knows how to win, she always fight until the end so I think she could give the team the best mentality. With the second pick I would have Brent Fikowski in my team. For the opposite: he’s born in the worst generation ever, because of Rich Froning and Mat Fraser. But he’s a heck-of-a-competitor, he never lose his smile: this reminds us to the real spirit of the Games and of CrossFit.

Never let the competition steal your spirit.

The third pick is for Laura Horvath. She’s young and she is hungry. You can see it in her eyes, she wants to win, she wants to prove the world that you can be the youngest in the field and compete against anyone. I think that when you give a young talent the opportunity to train with older winners, you give both a possibility to grow. My last pick sounds like a dream: I’ll give it to an Adaptive Athlete, such as Kevin Ogar. You have 3 athletes that maybe have not so much to learn, but when you give them the possibility to see a special effort, you’re automatically saying “when you think you’ve given everything, now watch him and start doing it again. You’ll improve again and again”. Of course, I think that a similar pick should be great also for Kevin, for a movement, for a scene, for the inclusion we always aim and, of course, because he is one of the strongest athlete I’ve ever seen. Period.

If you could program one event for the 2019 CrossFit Games that you would love to watch, what would it be and why?

I would love to see something combining everything: gymnastics, weightlifting, metcon and… extra stuff, such as another sport. Think about a 20 minutes AMRAP workout with 20 ring dips, 40 thrusters, 60 cal row, 10 basketball free throws… Ok, ok, I’m joking, but: sure, you will enjoy yourself watching your favourite athlete struggle in something you’re strong… Once in your life!

One book that you recommend everyone should read?

“Relentless”, Tim Grover. He has been a mental coach before mental coaches. A strength coach before trainers. He had (and has) the full package. He gave Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade the possibility to unlock their full potential. This book is a milestone for every athlete of any sport: if you feel in need of a key to unlock your competitive spirit, this book is full of right words, related to real facts.

One exercise that should appear more in CrossFit Workouts?

“Give me a Pistol and I will lift the world up!” …Ha ha ha!

Thanks a lot Andrea, and best of luck with your training and competing in the future!

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Paul – what did you think when you saw what 17.2 consisted of?

Lyndon- I watched on youtube and was unsure of how it could be adapted for me but I went for a swim went to the gym and was like yep I am ready to crush this! I felt even better when you worked out how we were going to adapt it for me and now I just feel great it was amazing.

LYNDON COMPETING IN CROSSFIT OPEN WORKOUT 17.2

Emma – what made you sign up to CrossFit?

Lyndon- I have always loved working out in the gym with friends but always felt like I needed that something extra. I knew my uncle did CrossFit so I watched it on YouTube and was like this is it I need to sign up! I needed that Extra and get that from CrossFit, I was made to feel inclusive instead of exclusive which is important to me.

Start of Monday’s gym session starts with Supine Rows with a 10KG plate for resistance! Anything is possible! Just adapt a new way through an exercise! #TNArmy #SandC #fitness #stumpaman #gym #amputee #amputeefitness #fun #strengthandconditioning #power #motivation #workhard #lovegym #goodlife #gains #workout #strength #thegoodlife #gymlife #homegymlife #getfit #fitfam #swimminglife #swimming #training #mondaymotivation #fitmonday #adaptandovercome

A post shared by Lyndon Longhorne (@lyndonlonghorne) on Dec 7, 2015 at 2:15am PST

Emma – What made you sign up to The Open? You hear a lot of people saying I am not signing up because I am not fit enough, or I haven’t got all the movements, so why did you sign up?

Lyndon- Everything that comes at me that’s a challenge, I am like yes I’ll sign up, lets go and see what happens. I like to share my experiences through social media to show that you can adapt, you can push and to show that its about your mental attitude and how you can use that to take yourself forward.

I also signed up in the hope that other adaptive athletes and Crossfitters think well if he can so can I. I want to show that it’s possible.

Half way through Monday’s gym programme, and we have Box jumps at 51CM! #TNArmy #SandC #fitness #stumpaman #gym #flying #amputee #amputeefitness #fun #boxjumps #strengthandconditioning #power #motivation #workhard #lovegym #goodlife #gains #workout #strength #thegoodlife #gymlife #homegymlife #getfit #fitfam #swimminglife #swimming #training #mondaymotivation #fitmonday

A post shared by Lyndon Longhorne (@lyndonlonghorne) on Nov 23, 2015 at 2:34am PST

Paul – what’s your goal been in The Open?

Lyndon – To challenge myself. You have helped with that with the way you adapt the workouts so that I am able to push myself mentally and physically every time.

New Year, New programme in the Gym to start a Monday! High pulls with 15kg. Feeling great also great tshirts from @unparalleledfitness #fitness #fitnessfreaks #fitnesslifestyle #fitnessmotivation #gym #gymlife #gymmotivation #strengthandconditioning #skipping #thegoodlife #goodlife #gym #motivation #workout #workhard #newyear

A post shared by Lyndon Longhorne (@lyndonlonghorne) on Jan 4, 2016 at 3:00am PST

Emma – What have you enjoyed about the community in the Open?

Lyndon – how everyone is driven, supportive of each other and pushes themselves. It is inspiring to see so many people pushing themselves out of their own comfort zone, the reebok Tyneside community is like a family and I am a part of that. It’s amazing!

Emma – what do you do outside of CrossFit?

I attend University studying sports management and swim every day.

Friday fitness programme starts with pull-ups! Adapt and overcome, anything is possible no matter what!! #TNArmy #SandC #fitness #stumpaman #gym #flying #amputee #amputeefitness #fun #dives #strengthandconditioning #power #motivation #workhard #lovegym #goodlife #gains #workout #strength #thegoodlife #gymlife #homegymlife #getfit #fitfam #swimminglife #swimming #training #fridayfitness

A post shared by Lyndon Longhorne (@lyndonlonghorne) on Nov 20, 2015 at 2:34am PST

And what’s are your Goals?

Lyndon – I missed out on the London Olympics by 10 seconds and Rio by 5 seconds. My goal is to make the para Olympic team for Tokyo 2020 and I believe CrossFit will help me achieve this.

I am a big believer of the right mindset. Believe and Achieve is my motto, Set Smart Goals, learn to believe in yourself and surround yourself with those that believe in you. Chip away every day and you will start achieving amazing things.

Great night out with family and an awesome friend @dbannatyne #friends #family

A post shared by Lyndon Longhorne (@lyndonlonghorne) on Jul 20, 2016 at 11:53am PDT

Lyndon Longhorne – Member/Athlete at reebok crossfit Tyneside

Paul Warrior – Head coach at reebok crossfit Tyneside  and warrior programming

Emma Hackett – Peak Performance coach at Reebok Crossfit Tyneside/limitlesscoaching

You can follow Lyndon on his Open journey and Olympic dreams @lyndonlonghorne

This year Mark will take part in the CrossFit Games Open for the first time.

Left: Mark after completing his first CrossFit Class in February. Right: Celebrating Mark’s first fitness competition in August, pictured with his sister Grace.

All photos by Grace Smith: Wod Warriors

Not giving up

He trains Crossfit and weightlifting together with his sister Grace and does up to 6 sessions a week. “Keeping a positive attitude is also very important. Instead of being frustrated by certain movements, I choose to focus on what I can do to improve,” says Mark.

Grace told us the credit goes to years of rehab from their mom, who never gave up hope he would live a normal life: “Mom fought for him to defy the odds and be independent, and after finishing school Markie chose to go to into further education and has both IT and Culinary qualifications, and now works as a Commis Chef in a Healthy Eating Café. The perfect career for a budding Crossfit athlete!”

Athlete’s ID:

Name: Mark Smith
Facebook: Mark Smith Adaptive Athlete
Country: Northern Ireland
Box: CrossFit Coleraine
Age: 33
Favourite exercise: Burpees
Coach: Stephen Hutton
Favourite quote: “If it’s to be, it’s up to me”. This was my (late) Father’s saying to all of us, and I have never forgotten it.

Never let any skill beat you

The beginnings were hard, but Mark kept on going: “I would say to never give up. When I started Crossfit everything seemed impossible, but I have never let any skill beat me. I will keep working on it until I get better and achieve my goal.”

When Mark started, he couldn’t even do an air squat, skip or jump, and his balance and co-ordination were extremely poor. After a year some of his personal records now include: 5 unbroken strict pull-ups, chin-ups, skipping, box jumps, toes-to-bar, 40 kg snatch, 45 kg clean & jerk, 125 kg deadlift, 90 kg front squat and much more.

First weightlifting meet

A positive attitude and focusing on what he can improve brought him all the way to his first ever weightlifting meet:“I missed out on a weightlifting development competition I had been training for, so my sister Grace organised a meet at the box with the help of my coaches Stephen Hutton and Eve Flack.” Mark got two personal bests in the snatch (40 kg) and clean & jerk (45 kg) and made all six lifts.

Grace is still amazed every time she looks over and sees Mark completing a WOD right next to her: “I remember when we were younger accompanying him to countless rehabilitation sessions, and now I’m training next to him!”

Mark’s current focus is on improving his technique as he would love to compete more in the future: “I would like to keep improving my skills, and would love to help set up an adaptive athlete competition here in the UK. My main aim is to compete in weightlifting, as Northern Ireland Weightlifting is currently reviewing implementing an adaptive division.”

Brothers and sisters: finding the love of exercise together

Crossfit changed Mark’s life, not just in making him physically stronger and fitter, but in making him happier in every way. But it all started when Grace decided to change her life and get fit. Mark joined her and together they lost over 60 kg. “Mark and I were able to support each other as we lost weight and found our love of exercise. However being able to train Croosfit together has been truly transforming.”

Grace hopes that Mark can inspire others: “I hope that he can inspire others to find their passion, and pursue it, no matter what their situation is or what obstacles lie in their path. And yes, in the next few weeks when we re-test his back squat, he will be back squatting over 100 kg! Take that doctors!”

She also adds: “I would personally like to thank everyone at CrossFit Coleraine for being so supportive of Mark. We are lucky to have such a special place to train.”