The CrossFit Open typically shines a spotlight on elite athletes, but what about the everyday heroes who truly define a CrossFit community? Coaches David Syvertsen @davesy85 and Sam Rhee @bergencosmetic take us behind the scenes of the Bison Beast Awards – their gym's annual recognition of members who embody CrossFit's spirit beyond the leaderboard.
Meet Ella Kinney, the community cornerstone who's always first to volunteer and last to leave, knitting together friendships throughout the gym. Then there's Scott Rosson, who suffered a heart attack during Open workout 25.3 yet asked about his score from the hospital bed hours later – not from competitive obsession but from unwavering commitment to his community. These are the first recipients of the newly renamed Steve Rice Bison Spirit Award, honoring a beloved member recently lost.
The stories continue with Lisa Skawinski, who finally participated in her first Open after doing CrossFit since 2016, crushing workouts at the day's end despite exhaustion from work and family responsibilities. Fourteen-year-old Yaya Gusfa earned Rookie of the Year by showing up at 6AM four days weekly, demonstrating remarkable maturity beyond his years.
Most Improved Athletes Alandra Greenlee and Brendan Mcgrail made incredible competitive leaps while balancing life's demands, while Matt Aquino earned Comeback of the Year by returning from emergent back surgery to achieve his best Open performance in a decade.
The episode concludes with a thoughtful critique of CrossFit's controversial new online judging system, where community verification meets potential manipulation. David and Sam offer practical solutions to preserve competitive integrity while honoring the sport's true heart – the everyday athletes who show up, support each other, and overcome obstacles without fanfare. These are the real heroes worth celebrating.
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