“(If) we want to be (at the Games) in 2024, it’s gonna take this year to do that. And even though it may look like there’s less (of) an opportunity, there’s a more significant opportunity, and it’s gonna have a larger level of impact on what we do moving forward simply by just showing up and signing up for the (2023) Open.” — Tom Miazga
Accessibility and Adaptive Sport Specialist Alec Zirkenbach, 2022 Men’s Seated With Hip Function champion Tom Miazga, and Competition Director Adrian Bozman join host Chase Ingraham on the latest episode to discuss updates to the 2023 Adaptive CrossFit Games season as well as the growth of and goals for the adaptive division in 2024 and beyond.
Some of the changes to the new adaptive season include a new scaled leaderboard for the CrossFit Open, the ability to verify eligibility for adaptive divisions prior to registering for the Open, and the removal of the Semifinal stage of competition.
Zirkenbach explains how the collection of data over the 2022 season, including feedback from specific adaptive committees and the community, helped inform some of the decisions for the upcoming season.
Miazga, an adaptive athlete and CrossFit Games commentator, provides his perspective on the new season structure and the representation of all adaptive divisions at the 2024 Games.
“I can understand why people would be frustrated,” Miazga says about athletes in five adaptive divisions being crowned the fittest at the end of the 2023 Open.
“I think this is necessary in order to get to where we want to be,” Miazga continues, “and the idea of (all adaptive divisions being at the Games) in 2024 is something I’m motivated by.”
Bozman reviews adjustments to the season, which will be detailed in the official Rulebook, and also offers his insight on the season structure.
“That was a hard decision to make,” Bozman says about eliminating Semifinals.
“Nobody wants less, however, we expect that this is gonna be a really positive step if people have the patience to see it through and see what we can get going in 2024 with full visibility and full representation,” he says.
The group also chats about Rinse ‘N’ Repeat from the 2022 Games — an event that was identical across all divisions — the possible addition of adaptive divisions in the future, and how CrossFit can benefit athletes of all sports and people of all ability levels.
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