Normative Scores for CrossFit® Open Workouts: 2011-2022

Sports (Basel). 2023 Jan 18;11(2):24. doi: 10.3390/sports11020024.

Abstract

To create normative scores for all CrossFit® Open (CFO) workouts and compare male and female performances, official scores were collected from the official competition leaderboard for all competitors of the 2011-2022 CFO competitions. Percentiles were calculated for athletes (18-54 years) who completed all workouts within a single year 'as prescribed' and met minimum scoring thresholds. Independent t-tests revealed significant (p < 0.05) sex differences for 56 of 60 workouts. In workouts scored by repetitions completed, men completed more repetitions in 18 workouts by small to large differences (d = 0.22-0.81), whereas women completed more repetitions in 6 workouts by small to medium differences (d = 0.36-0.77). When workouts were scored by time to completion, men were faster in 10 workouts by small to large differences (d = 0.23-1.12), while women were faster in 3 workouts by small differences (d = 0.46). In three workouts scored by load lifted, men lifted more weight by large differences (d = 2.00-2.98). All other differences were either trivial or not significant. Despite adjusted programming for men and women, the persistence of performance differences across all CFO workouts suggests that resultant challenges are not the same. These normative values may be useful for training and research in male and female CrossFit® athletes.

Keywords: athlete classification; fitness assessment; high-intensity functional training; sex differences; sport specific.

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.