5 Questions on Fitnesss: Competitive CrossFit (and Why the Worm Can Kick Rocks) | w/ Coach Jon Fazio

What does competitive CrossFit actually look like in 2025?

In this episode of Physical Education, Noah sits down with Coach Jon Fazio to break down the modern competitive fitness landscape—from the Open and qualifiers to year-long seasons, team competitions, and what it really takes to succeed beyond group classes.

This is a wide-ranging, honest conversation about the sport of CrossFit today: what’s working, what’s broken, and why there have never been more opportunities to compete.

We cover:

How competitive CrossFit has changed since the early “just show up” days

The modern road to the Games (and why it keeps changing)

Why competition is a campaign, not a one-shot

What coaching competitors actually looks like (hint: it’s not just writing workouts)

Common problems with qualifiers and incomplete “tests”

Movements and themes that are overused—and what should come back

Who is (and isn’t) a good fit for compete programming

Why CrossFit competition is very much not dying

Whether you’re thinking about your first competition, already deep in the competitive scene, or just curious how the sport has evolved, this episode will give you a clearer picture of where competitive fitness is right now.

Interested in compete programming with Coach Jon (Austin or remote)?
📩 DM him on Instagram: @coachfazio (F-A-Z-I-O)
📧 Email: [email protected]

Next episode: Noah goes solo for a deep dive into one of his biggest influences in fitness—Dan John.

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