On August 20, the Professional Fitness Athletes’ Association (PFAA) issued a formal statement outlining three critical demands aimed at restoring athlete trust in the CrossFit Sport. These demands were made in response to growing concerns within the community following recent events, including the tragic death of athlete Lazar Djukic. First, the PFAA called for full transparency regarding the third-party investigation into Djukic’s death, urging CrossFit to openly share the findings and ensure accountability. Second, they demanded the establishment of an independent safety team tasked with overseeing the well-being and safety protocols for athletes during competitions and training. Finally, the PFAA called for the immediate removal of Dave Castro from his position within the Sport Team, citing concerns over his leadership and the need for a fresh direction to regain athlete confidence. These actions, the PFAA emphasized, are necessary steps for CrossFit to rebuild its credibility and trust among its athlete community.
Although the PFAA’s statement on Instagram lacked further details or context, additional clarity was provided through an article written by PFAA President Brent Fikowski, which was published in Men’s Health around the same time as the official statement. In the article, Fikowski shed light on the reasoning behind the PFAA’s actions and demands, offering a deeper understanding of the motivations driving their decisions.
This article served as a crucial supplement to the brief Instagram post, providing the necessary background and context to understand the PFAA’s call for reform and the urgency behind their demands.
Read the full interview here.
Over the weekend, Brent Fikowski, along with fellow competitor and PFAA Athlete Board member Pat Vellner, appeared on the Coffee, Pods and Wods podcast to further discuss the PFAA’s recent statement and provide deeper insight into the reasons behind their demands.
During the podcast, Fikowski and Vellner explained the origins of the PFAA, outlining the key motivations that led to its formation and emphasizing the need for athletes to have a unified voice in the sport. They also discussed the eligibility criteria for becoming a PFAA member, highlighting that the organization is open to professional CrossFit athletes who are committed to promoting athlete safety and fairness in the sport.
In addition, both athletes elaborated on the specific rationale behind the PFAA’s demands, particularly their call for transparency in the investigation of Lazar Djukic’s death, the establishment of an independent safety team, and the removal of Dave Castro from his position. They stressed that these demands are rooted in a desire to foster a safer, more accountable environment for all athletes involved in CrossFit.
The full interview, offering a more detailed explanation of the PFAA’s objectives and the critical changes they are advocating for, can be viewed in the link below.
On Sunday, The Sevan Podcast featured an athlete roundtable discussion with Saxon Panchik and Angelo Dicicco, both of whom competed at the 2024 CrossFit Games. During the episode, the athletes voiced their perspectives on the recent demands issued by the Professional Fitness Athletes’ Association (PFAA).
In contrast to the PFAA’s position, both Panchik and Dicicco expressed differing viewpoints regarding the organization’s demands.
Panchik and Dicicco’s insights provided a broader perspective on the debate within the CrossFit community, underscoring the fact that not all athletes share the same stance as the PFAA. Their discussion contributed to a growing conversation around how best to ensure athlete safety and accountability while maintaining the integrity of the sport.
