From an activity that was on the fringes, known about by only a few people, to a sport that has billions in revenue, tens of thousands of accredited coaches, and a following that is as dedicated as it can be fanatical, CrossFit is an amazing success story that unfolded in front of our very eyes in less than two decades.
The CrossFit stats below can tell you something about its members and just how popular it is. Founded in 2001 under the heat of the sun in Santa Cruz, California by Greg Glassman, CrossFit took the world by storm, and we are going to give you some info on the results below.
Editor’s Pick of The Top Five CrossFit Stats and From Our Article
- Roughly 60% of all CrossFitters are women.
- CrossFit makes most of its money from seminars, affiliate fees, and registration fees.
- The CrossFit brand generates $4 billion in revenue all around the world.
- US athletes represented roughly 11% of the competitors during the 2019 Games.
- It took four years for CrossFit to reach its fifth affiliate, five more to grow to 500, then another five to reach 10,000.
CrossFit’s Sucess
1. CrossFit is the largest fitness chain in the world.
(Morning Chalk Up)
According to CrossFit growth statistics from 2018, not only is CrossFit number one as far as fitness is concerned, but it’s also one of the fastest-growing corporate chains. In fact, it’s right there, at number 7, behind Pizza Hut, Burger King, KFC, Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Subway. And no, the irony of a fitness chain being smack-dab in the middle of multiple fast-food chains isn’t lost on us either.
2. CrossFit started with 20 members.
(FoxBusiness)
The sport had very humble, simple beginnings. It’s one of the lesser-known CrossFit facts that not only did Glassman have 20 people, but they were also ten members short of breaking even.
3. It took four years for CrossFit to reach its fifth affiliate, another five to grow to 500, then another five to reach 10,000.
(Morning Chalk Up)
The first CrossFit box opened in 2001, in California. Things, of course, needed some time to get going. In 2001, there was one box, and by the end of 2004, there were five. The growth of CrossFit continued, where it took another four years to reach 500. Finally, in 2014, a Crossfit Box in London, England, opened and got the coveted 10,000th place.
4. CrossFit created its own demand.
(The Success of CrossFit)
An interesting fact is that CrossFit didn’t really steal demand away from fitness and gym businesses. Rather, it created a demand that didn’t exist before. Fitness and CrossFit trends show that Glassman just filled in a gap that not many noticed existed.
CrossFit Demographics
5. The CrossFit Games are open to all ages.
(South China Morning Post)
CrossFit competitions are pretty much open to all ages. While it may depend on the gym whether they are going to work with kids or not, competitions pretty much take anyone older than 14. The CrossFit statistics by age clearly show differences between categories, where you have the teenage division between 14 and 17, then regular events between 17 and 34. The master’s division is divided into six groups, for people aged 35 to 39, 40 to 44, 45 to 49, 50 to 54, 55 to 59, and finally, 60 or older.
6. The CrossFit brand generates $4 billion in revenue all around the world.
(The Success of CrossFit)
The statistics on CrossFit speak volumes of its success. Glassman was kicked out of a number of gyms because of his disruptive workouts, until he finally decided to do his own thing. Starting from nothing, this sport has reached revenues of more than $4 billion a year, and over 12,000 CrossFit gyms sprung up globally.
7. Roughly 60% of all CrossFitters are women.
(AceFitness)
One of the more interesting CrossFit statistics and facts show that roughly 60% of all 10 million members are women. This is just another nail in the coffin for the notion that women can’t handle serious workouts. Sandy Hill, Lindy Barber, Deborah Diamond, Sara Sigmundsdottir, and many other hardcore women just prove this point further.
8. Unlike other professional sports, there is no gender pay and prize gap within CrossFit.
(The Success of CrossFit)
What makes CrossFit stand out is the lack of any pay gap between women and men. Male and female athletes get equal amounts when it comes to prizes. This equal monetary compensation makes the sport more inclusive, allowing CrossFit women to feel equal. The CrossFit games stats and data will then speak for themselves.
Behind the Scenes
9. It has more than 35,000 accredited trainers.
(AceFitness)
From humble beginnings, CrossFit gym statistics show an army of 35,000 accredited trainers. And this number will most likely keep increasing. Relevant data shows that you can get a job where the salary is higher than the national average, where you can meet new people, and whose demand will more than likely rise by 23% in the following decade.
10. You can burn roughly 150 calories per workout.
(AceFitness)
According to data and facts about CrossFit, a study found that men burn 20.5 calories per minute of CrossFit exercise, while women burn 12.3 calories. Now, these numbers might not sound like much, but remember that your typical WOD lasts for roughly 10 to 12 minutes, while the rest is stretching and warming up.
11. CrossFit makes most of its money from seminars, affiliate fees, and registration fees.
(inc.com)
Greg Glassman, the founder and owner of the CrossFit brand, refuses to sell branded equipment and supplements. Rather, he gives his affiliates full freedom to choose their own equipment. CrossFit facts and figures show that most of the money he makes comes from registration fees for the CrossFit Games, as well as some Reebok CrossFit apparel. Said affiliates also have fees that top out at, roughly, three thousand dollars per year.
12. Opening a CrossFit “box” costs you $3,000 annually.
(The Success of CrossFit)
Compared to other fitness affiliates and franchises, it’s pretty inexpensive to start your own CrossFit gym (or box). It’s one of the more positive CrossFit facts for budding entrepreneurs, since it will cost you roughly $3000 per year. A big factor is the libertarian attitude of Greg Glassman, as well as the relatively minimal construction costs and equipment requirements. In contrast, becoming a Gold’s Gym franchisor (a gym chain that is on the decline) can cost somewhere between one and four million.
13. Currently, CrossFit is growing at a rate of 2% to 5% per year.
(Morning Chalk Up)
While CrossFit growth trends are still positive, they have, quite normally, slowed down. Since 2015, CrossFit growth has slowed down. In the US, it slowed down to roughly 2% to 5% per year. However, on an international level, things are much better.
14. There are more gyms outside the US than in it.
(Morning Chalk Up)
While we already analyzed trends in CrossFit when it comes to growth rates, it’s interesting to note that it’s growing far faster internationally than domestically. Namely, CrossFit affiliate growth is greater than US growth by 14% to 20%. In other words, that’s 150 new boxes in the US compared to 1000 internationally.
15. CrossFit injury rates are at 3.1 incidents per 1000 hours of activity.
(Forbes)
CrossFit is infamous for its participants getting injured quite often. However, that is not really rooted in reality. The relevant CrossFit injury rate is 3.1 incidents per 1000 hours of activity. Recreational runners get 30.1 injuries per 1000 hours of running. In fact, CrossFit’s injury rates are at the level of Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, and gymnastics. Furthermore, it is also below American Football, which has 35.9 injuries per every 1000 games (which corresponds roughly to 1000 hours).
16. During the 2007 CrossFit Games, the first-place prize was at $500. For 2019, it was at $300,000.
(BoxRox)
Another strong indicator of just how quickly CrossFit is growing is the value of first-place prizes. One of the more fun CrossFit facts for its competitors is that their prizes have steadily grown. In 2007, the first-place prize for both men and women was $500, and around 70 people were involved. In 2019, these numbers reached more than 300k dollars.
17. Only five key movements have been repeated on every CrossFit Open.
(WodRep)
While the CrossFit Open is just the beginning of the CrossFit Games, it plays an integral part in the entire event. Even though there are many different exercises and patterns found within the Open, five movements have always been present so far. Namely, Double Unders, Muscle Ups (whether on the bar or on rings), Toes To Bar, Thrusters, and Chest To Bar Pull-Ups always made an appearance. If you want to get the best CrossFit stats and numbers, it’s a good idea to focus on these movements, and gamble with the rest.
18. US athletes represented roughly 11% of the competitors in the 2019 Games.
(Morning Chalk Up – Performance by country)
In 2019, the US sent 34 athletes to the Games. This made up roughly 11% of all competitors. Still, this is one of the more positive trends within CrossFit, since it shows how the remaining 266 (out of 300) competitors come from all around the world.
FAQ
What is a CrossFit workout?
(NBC News)
A CrossFit workout is a mix of HIIT, gymnastics, and Olympic weightlifting. Every workout begins with a warm-up, lasting roughly ten to fifteen minutes. However, it’s not just running around – it includes lunges, squats, jumping rope, pull-ups, and other dynamic exercises to get the blood flowing and prepare you for the WOD.
WOD, or workout of the day, is the core of CrossFit. This is where the above mix of exercises comes into play. Note that results and CrossFit statistics speak for themselves if you find this combination strange. The exercises use kettlebells, rowers, medicine balls, speed ropes, rings, barbels, all placing emphasis on load, distance, and speed.
What is CrossFit good for?
(Healthline)
It can improve your physical strength, aerobic fitness, agility, balance, and flexibility. Additionally, it can help you lose weight. The reason it has so many benefits is the variety found in its exercise selection and the intensity needed to execute said exercises. Of course, keep the old notion of – jack of all trades, master of none – in mind before you take it up.
How popular is CrossFit?
With 35,000 accredited trainers, billions in revenue, thousands of gyms all around the world, and with a solid growth rate, both domestic and abroad, CrossFit is still very popular, proving it’s not just a fad.
Is CrossFit good to lose weight?
CrossFit is a very good way to lose weight. Its mixture of endurance and strength training, very high intensity, and strong competitive community will definitely help you shed some pounds (as long as your diet is adjusted as well).
Conclusion
We hope this article has been informative and useful. CrossFit’s monumental growth and advancement needed to be seen to be believed, and we trust some of the CrossFit stats and data on this list can help you with that. Just remember to stay safe, listen to what your coach says, and, please, warm up properly.
