Predictors of CrossFit Open Performance

Abstract

The 2018 CrossFit Open (CFO) was the initial stage of an annual competition that consisted of five weekly workouts. Current evidence suggests that a variety of fitness parameters are important for progressing beyond this stage, but little is known about which are the most important. To examine relationships between CFO performance, experience, and physiological fitness, sixteen experienced (>2 years) athletes (30.7 ± 6.9 years, 171 ± 12 cm, 78.0 ± 16.2 kg) volunteered to provide information about their training and competitive history, and then complete a battery of physiological assessments prior to competing in the 2018 CFO. Athletes’ resting energy expenditure, hormone concentrations, body composition, muscle morphology, cardiorespiratory fitness, and isometric strength were assessed on two separate occasions. Spearman correlations demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) relationships between most variables and performance on each workout. Stepwise regression revealed competition experience (R2 = 0.31–0.63), body composition (R2 = 0.55–0.80), vastus lateralis cross-sectional area (R2 = 0.29–0.89), respiratory compensation threshold (R2 = 0.54–0.75), and rate of force development (R2 = 0.30–0.76) to be the most common predictors. Of these, body composition was the most important. These fitness parameters are known targets with established training recommendations. Though preliminary, athletes may use these data to effectively train for CFO competition.

Local Muscle Endurance and Strength Had Strong Relationship with CrossFit® Open 2020 in Amateur Athletes

“…Confirming the initial hypothesis, specific tests of localized muscular endurance and muscle strength had the strongest relationship with performance in the CrossFit ® Open 2020. On the other hand, contrary to previous studies, the percentage of fat [2] and cardiorespiratory capacity [3] were not significantly correlated with CrossFit ® Open 2020 workout performance.…”

Local Muscle Endurance and Strength are the Best Predictors of Crossfit Open 2020 in Amateur Athletes

“…Confirming the initial hypothesis, specific tests of localized muscular endurance and muscle strength had the strongest relationship with performance in the Open. On the other hand, contrary to previous studies the percentage of fat [1] and cardiorespiratory capacity [2] were not significantly correlated with CrossFit Open 2020 workout performance.…”

“…Despite the increase in popularity, there is a paucity of literature on the topic of CrossFit performance. Previous research has investigated the relationship between nonspecific tests such as anthropometric profile [1], cardiorespiratory capacity [2], muscle strength [2], and muscle power [2], with performance in practitioners and athletes of CrossFit. For example, Martínez-Gómez et al [2] evaluated the relationship between muscle strength (Full-Squat) and performance at the CrossFit Open 2017.…”

Resting Energy Expenditure in CrossFit® Participants: Predictive Equations versus Indirect Calorimetry

“…When comparing more experienced athletes with Cross-Fit® participants, similarities were observed between the metabolic rates (only 20 kcal/day difference); however, the athletes had higher FFMs, lower body fat percentages, lower fat masses, and more favorable body compositions associated with sustaining high intensity effort (Mangine, Stratton et al, 2020). These data corroborate the findings of Tibana et al (2017) and Mangine, Tankersley et al (2020), in which both athletes and CrossFit® participants with lower body fat percentages showed better performances in WODs, suggesting body composition to be a predictor of performance.…”