Castro makes his return in a major leadership role for the organization.
Justin Bergh is stepping down from his position as CrossFit’s General Manager of Sport, according to CrossFit CEO Don Faul. Bergh had been in 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 replacement. 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 work history with CrossFit dating back to some time 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 at the time of this writing.
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 characterized as being a “key advisor” for the organization’s affiliate gyms and coaches. Faul was named Eric Roza’s successor as CrossFit’s new CEO in August 2022 — two months after Castro made his return.
In a statement provided to BarBend, Faul had glowing words about the work Bergh accomplished as the leader of CrossFit’s Sport team. At the same time, he endorsed Castro in his old stomping grounds as the lead-up to the 2023 CrossFit Games in early August begins to heat up.
“After 13 years, Justin Bergh will be leaving CrossFit,” Faul said. “[Bergh] has done so much for our community, and we’re incredibly grateful for the role he’s played in making CrossFit what it is today. Dave Castro will step in to lead our Sport Team, who are prepping to make sure we have an amazing 2023 [CrossFit] Games.”
At the time of this article’s publication, without more firsthand knowledge of the organization’s process, it is 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 is difficult to ascertain Castro’s scope and influence.
Nonetheless, this remains a massive shift in leadership for CrossFit’s chief organizing body and one to monitor in the coming weeks and months.
Featured image: @diablocrossfit on Instagram
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