#943 - Will Ahmed - The Downfall Of CrossFit & The Future Of Fitness

Overview

This episode dives into the downfall of CrossFit, the evolution of fitness trends, the psychology of high performers, and the role of wearable tech in optimizing health. Will Ahmed, founder of WHOOP, shares insights on building resilience, navigating rejection, and balancing ambition with gratitude.

Notable Quotes

- I've now been building WHOOP for 13 years, without question, the most dysfunctional partner we've ever worked with. – Will Ahmed, on CrossFit's operational challenges.

- If you desire the life but not the lifestyle, you guarantee disappointment. – James Clear, as referenced by Chris Williamson.

- You don't fake it until you make it. You make it until you believe it. – Chris Williamson, on overcoming self-doubt.

🔥 The Downfall of CrossFit

- CrossFit's grassroots success was overshadowed by controversies, including leadership scandals and operational dysfunction (Will Ahmed).

- WHOOP's partnership with CrossFit revealed deep organizational issues, with Ahmed calling it a missed opportunity for the fitness industry.

- The decline of CrossFit has left a gap filled by emerging fitness communities like High Rocks, which offer more accessible and lower-impact alternatives (Chris Williamson).

📈 Global Fitness Trends

- Boutique fitness communities like Barry's, Orange Theory, and Pilates studios are thriving as people seek more inclusive and less intimidating options (Will Ahmed).

- Racket sports like pickleball and paddle are experiencing explosive growth, with paddle becoming a global phenomenon (Will Ahmed).

- WHOOP's data highlights sleep as a persistent challenge, with only 22% of users getting over 7 hours of sleep. Sleep consistency is now recognized as more critical than duration.

🧠 The Psychology of High Performers

- Elite athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo and Rory McIlroy exhibit an intense drive and willingness to experiment, but their success often comes at significant personal costs (Will Ahmed).

- The obsession with perfection, as seen in figures like Michael Jordan, can lead to torment and imbalance (Chris Williamson).

- Ahmed emphasizes the importance of balancing ambition with gratitude, noting that gratitude is not complacency but a complementary mindset.

📊 Wearable Tech & Health Optimization

- WHOOP's latest features include heart screening, blood pressure monitoring, and a health span score that calculates biological age.

- Ahmed stresses that WHOOP is a tool, not a master, designed to operate unobtrusively in the background. Features like hiding recovery scores cater to users who want less data anxiety.

- The conversation also touched on emerging health trends like hydrogen water and its potential benefits for recovery and travel.

💡 Overcoming Rejection & Self-Doubt

- Ahmed reflects on the early days of WHOOP, facing rejection from investors and peers while questioning his own capabilities.

- Success, he argues, often hinges on hard work, consistency, and luck, but also on the ability to separate personal worth from professional outcomes.

- Both Ahmed and Williamson discuss the importance of introspection in defining what you truly want and the courage to pursue it despite setbacks.