Castro makes his return in a significant leadership role for the organization.
Justin Bergh is stepping down from his position as CrossFit’s General Manager of Sport, in response to CrossFit CEO Don Faul. Bergh had been within the role for 18 months and is leaving the job effective immediately. Per Faul, Dave Castro will take up Bergh’s former position as his alternative. Castro was previously fired from this role in January 2022 after roughly 15 years on the job.
Before leading CrossFit’s Sport team, Bergh was the organization’s Vice President of Sport and Partnerships from 2021 to 2022. He was previously the General Manager of the annual CrossFit Games from 2013 to 2020, with a piece history with CrossFit dating back to a while in 2006. Not long after Castro’s ouster in early 2022, Bergh was named the General Manager of Sport. He held the role until mid-June 2023. A reasoning has not been provided for Bergh’s departure on the time of this writing.
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A former Navy Seal, Castro returned to CrossFit in an affiliate-focused role five months after he was originally fired from his General Manager position. His responsibilities then were characterised as being a “key advisor” for the organization’s affiliate gyms and coaches. Faul was named Eric Roza’s successor as CrossFit’s latest CEO in August 2022 — two months after Castro made his return.
In a press release provided to BarBend, Faul had glowing words in regards to the work Bergh completed because the leader of CrossFit’s Sport team. At the identical time, he endorsed Castro in his old stomping grounds because the lead-up to the 2023 CrossFit Games in early August begins to heat up.
“After 13 years, Justin Bergh will likely be leaving CrossFit,” Faul said. “[Bergh] has done a lot for our community, and we’re incredibly grateful for the role he’s played in making CrossFit what it’s today. Dave Castro will step in to steer our Sport Team, who’re prepping to be certain we now have a tremendous 2023 [CrossFit] Games.”
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On the time of this text’s publication, without more firsthand knowledge of the organization’s process, it’s unclear how Bergh’s departure and Castro’s elevation will affect any aspect of the 2023 CrossFit Games. Even on a several-week timeline before the competition in Madison, WI, on Aug. 1-6, 2023, it’s difficult to establish Castro’s scope and influence.
Nonetheless, this stays an enormous shift in leadership for CrossFit’s chief organizing body and one to watch in the approaching weeks and months.
Featured image: @diablocrossfit on Instagram