“What you should start expecting from CrossFit is that we are going to share CrossFit with more people with the goal of more people doing CrossFit with a coach in an affiliate. … I’m excited that we’re doing it with athletes and really honoring that experience.” — Justin Bergh
General Manager of Sport Justin Bergh joins host Chase Ingraham on the podcast to give further insight on some of the changes to the 2023 CrossFit Games season and CrossFit’s goals for the years ahead.
Season details have been released earlier than ever. After a recap of the 2022 season, Bergh discusses the motivation behind the early announcement and the importance of creating a more positive, enjoyable experience for athletes and the CrossFit community.
The structure and number of Semifinals have also changed. Bergh explains why the number of events was reduced and how CrossFit will take ownership of the programming at each competition. He also gives more details about the minimum number of Games-qualifying spots and the strength of field.
Bergh’s recent experience competing at a local CrossFit competition for the first time not only made him excited for the upcoming Open, but he also gained perspective from an athlete’s point of view.
“I have way greater appreciation with (what) the athletes go through. I have better empathy for the athlete experience that has really opened my eyes to how much we can offer and how much progress we need to make there in order for (CrossFit) to really grow,” Bergh says.
Additional details for the 2023 CrossFit Games season will be announced. Stay up to date by visiting Games.CrossFit.com and signing up for the monthly Hopper newsletter.