Determination of a CrossFit^® Benchmark Performance Profile

In the trend sport CrossFit^®, international competition is held at the CrossFit^® Games, known worldwide as the definitive fitness test. Since American athletes are the best in the world regarding CrossFit^®, there might be influencing factors on international competition performance. Here, we characterize the benchmark performance profile of American and German CrossFit^® athletes (n = 162). To collect the common benchmark performance by questionnaire, 66 male and 96 female CrossFit^® athletes (32.6 ± 8.2 years) participated in our survey in both nations. By comparing the individual performance variables, only a significant difference in total power lift performance by males was identified between the nations (p = 0.034). No other significant differences were found in the Olympic lift, running, or the "Girl" Workout of the Day (Fran, Grace, Helen) performance. Very large to extremely large (r = 0.79-0.99, p < 0.01) positive correlations were found between the power lift and Olympic lift variables. Further linear regression analysis predicted the influence of back squat performance on performance in the Olympic lifts, snatch (R² = 0.76) and clean and jerk (R² = 0.84). Our results suggested a dominant role of back squat performance in the assessment of physical fitness of CrossFit^® athletes.