As Director of the CrossFit Games and Co-Director of Training for CrossFit, Inc., Dave Castro has witnessed the growth and evolution of CrossFit from a grassroots fitness movement to a worldwide training methodology, recognized for its effectiveness for grandparents and professional athletes alike.
Dave served as a Navy SEAL from 1998-2010 and first caught wind of CrossFit in 2005 when he started following CrossFit.com to support his training. By 2006 he had begun training at the original CrossFit HQ affiliate in Santa Cruz, California, and was soon helping out at Level 1 Certificate Courses.
The following year, he hosted the first ever CrossFit Games competition at his family’s Ranch in Aromas, California. Since that time, the CrossFit Games have grown exponentially into a professional sport. Dave has been there every step of the way, devising tests that select for the Fittest Man and Woman on Earth and programming events at all 13 editions of the Games.
In his second visit to the podcast, Dave and I sat down at CrossFit HQ following an MDL1, a Level 1 Certificate Course for medical professionals. Our last show was in May of 2016, so we had a lot to catch up on! We talked about the positive changes he’s witnessed as CrossFit transitions its focus to CrossFit Health, his reflections on the 2019 CrossFit Games, and why he’s okay with not being everyone’s friend.
Dave Castro: “I think people are resistant to change, and I think people being more tolerant and accepting of change is a good thing. I think this forced all of us to learn how to deal with it, and people who weren't prepared for it, people in the community, staff, athletes — hey, this is life. You’re going to get handed things you don’t like to deal with and change you don’t want to deal with. And so, it was all a good lesson in life for so many of us.”
“You know, Greg Glassman saved my life. … He gave me an opportunity to contribute in another way and to have a good secure life and job.”
The 2020 Reebok CrossFit Games will be held the week of Wednesday, July 29, through Sunday, Aug. 2.
Cover image by Lindsey Miller (@Digitallinds).
