The Growth of the CrossFit Games

The recipient of an MBA in finance from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, Christopher J. Henneforth is an experienced venture capitalist and finance executive based in Powell, Ohio. He has served as chief financial officer at Omina Medical since 2014. In addition to his professional pursuits, Christopher J. Henneforth is a fitness enthusiast who hopes to qualify for the 50-54 age grouping at the 2024 CrossFit Games.

The CrossFit Games is a fitness-based obstacle event that has grown from a 70-athlete competition to one that attracts hundreds of thousands of prospective participants from around the world. The first-ever event was held at a ranch in Northern California in 2007 and involved fitness obstacles such as a 1,000-meter row and five rounds of 25 pull-ups and seven push jerks. The 2008 CrossFit Games involved 300 athletes accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Qualification was introduced for the 2009 CrossFit Games.

Today, the CrossFit Games is shown on ESPN, CBS, and various international broadcast networks. The 2020 CrossFit Games were expected to be held in Madison, Wisconsin, but instead occurred at the same ranch in which the inaugural games took place in 2007. The first stage of the event was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Obstacles include hill sprints, handstand sprints, and the snatch speed triple.