Canadian Games athlete Cedric Lapointe posted a time of 8:16 on 20.1, a score that was good enough to place him 2nd worldwide.
He then received the following message from CrossFit Inc.
“Cedric, I manage the review process for the CrossFit Games. After consideration, your video has received a MAJOR penalty for consistent lack of extension in the ground to overhead. A MAJOR penalty for 20.1 is 2:30mins, which will adjust your 10:46. Good luck for the rest of the season”
This prompted him to release the following statement.
I’m someone who’s pretty happy in life, rarely sad and never mad, but this morning I am. I’m mad because I’ve sent 3 e-mails to CFHQ for an appeal and never got an answer back.
“If you don’t have a big name, they’ll step on you and enjoy doing it because they love feeling powerful.”
The system is stupid and illogical, how can a 8:16mins become a 10:46mins?
How can I go from 2nd in the world to 900th? How can one persons opinion of my video determine I’m not fit enough to keep my well earned score? I’m mad because I’m not made of money, I’m a full time athlete, who can’t just compete in every sanctioned event, so qualifying through the open was important to me. I saved money to go to @filthy150 thinking it would be the 1st Sanctioned Event and easier for me to qualify for the CF Games, but they just invited 7 Games athletes. Why cant you not do that in advance? Tell the athletes and stop thinking with your wallet. We’re human beings, we don’t want to be part of your game and when I ask you in advance on IG, have the descency [sic] and humility to answer me.
I put my life on hold for 2 years of my own life for a sport (or a brand) that can’t even respect me. Someone who paid their stupid 1K$ to be a CF trainer, someone who’s serving THEIR community and someone who’s been helping THEM grow the last 4 years. Why can’t you respect us, the elite athletes, that are spreading social media of free content for you?
I’m mad because I’m only one person, one person that is trying to fight against an industry that enjoys playing with us, with the rules, the standards and the season like if we were toys and we don’t matter to them. I’m mad because despite all the previous facts, I’m in love with that sport and I’ll keep preaching it every single day.
I wish things were different, I wish things were fair. I wish there would be a system that works, but I’m sad that it won’t be with CF.
WATCH THE VIDEOS OF 20.1 BY CEDRIC LAPOINTE
Many other athletes were penalised, and also responded to the penalties.
Sam Briggs, Frederick Aegidius and Dane Smith Respond to their Score Reductions on 20.1
