Fitness giant CrossFit has quietly revised its CrossFit Games rules to allow some participation by transgender athletes after widespread criticism of a restrictive policy introduced last year.
In 2025, the American company drew backlash from queer CrossFit enthusiasts after it changed its CrossFit Games Gender Classification Policy.
The revised rules required participants to strictly compete according to the gender assigned to them at birth, regardless of legal, medical or personal documentation reflecting a different gender.
The policy applied to all divisions of the annual international competition, from the Open category, which includes recreational athletes, to the elite categories in which competitors can win prize money.
Backlash From the Community
CrossFit defended the change at the time as necessary to ensure fairness. Many critics, however, argued that the policy excluded and discriminated against transgender athletes.
An online petition called on the company to review its stance and engage with the transgender community.
Updated Policy Allows Limited Participation
CrossFit appears to have responded to the criticism with a partial update to the CrossFit Games Gender Classification Policy for 2026.
According to the revised rules, “Any athlete who only wishes to participate in the Open and Community Cup may register in alignment with their gender identity.”
However, athletes who want to compete beyond the Open stage, or become eligible for prize money, face stricter requirements. The updated policy states that anyone who wishes to compete past the Open “must register and compete in the gender division corresponding to their sex assigned at birth for all stages of the CrossFit Games, including the Open, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals.”
Athletes Welcome Change but Call for More Inclusion
Brent Janse van Vuuren, a transgender CrossFit enthusiast from Cape Town who criticised the 2025 policy, has cautiously welcomed the update as a step forward.
“Although it’s still not full inclusion across all competition levels, it’s progress,” he told MambaOnline.
Writing on X, Van Vuuren noted that the latest rule change appeared without any announcement, accountability or apology. “Just a silent edit, swept under the rug and hoping it quickly disappears,” he said.
He emphasised that while the company’s corporate policy had “caused real harm to me and my community”, he never felt excluded by the broader CrossFit community or his teammates.
“There is no way I’m walking away from the best hour of my day because a handful of faceless, bigoted ‘boardroom bros’ chose exclusion over inclusion,” he said.
Van Vuuren added: “I’m so grateful for everyone who spoke up. This policy change is proof that when people speak up – change is possible!”
Global Fitness Brand
Founded in 2000, CrossFit has grown into a global fitness company with more than 10,000 licensed gyms, known as “boxes”, across more than 150 countries.
The annual CrossFit Games allow athletes to compete through their local gyms in a series of workouts held over several weeks. The Open division caters largely to recreational athletes, while a small group progresses to the finals to compete for the title of the “Fittest on Earth.”
