The “Girls” and the “New Girls” Crossfit wods

CrossFit, a high-intensity fitness training program, has a tradition of naming certain Workouts of the Day (WODs) after women, similarly to how meteorological services name storms. This tradition was initiated by CrossFit founder Greg Glassman. The symbolism behind this naming convention is to represent the intensity and challenge these workouts bring, often leaving athletes feeling as if they’ve been through a storm due to the demanding nature of the exercises.

The tradition began in 2003 when the first set of female-named WODs were introduced and published in the CrossFit Journal in 2004. This initial list included six workouts named “Angie,” “Barbara,” “Chelsea,” “Diane,” “Elizabeth,” and “Fran.” In the subsequent months, two more workouts, “Grace” and “Helen,” were added to the lineup. The tradition continued with “Annie” being introduced in 2005 and “Eva” in 2008. The list expanded further in 2010 with the addition of six new workouts: “Isabel,” “Jackie,” “Karen,” “Linda,” “Mary,” and “Nancy.”

As CrossFit continued to grow in popularity, the list of girl-named WODs extended to include a new set referred to as the “New Girls,” marking a new era of benchmark workouts. These New Girls continued the tradition of providing challenging workouts for the CrossFit community and allowed for further benchmarks for athletes to test their progress.

The CrossFit Girls and New Girls represent a significant aspect of CrossFit culture, embodying the essence of challenge, improvement, and community. These workouts are more than just a means to an end; they are a tradition that honors the enduring spirit of the CrossFit community, pushing athletes to strive for better performance and fostering a sense of camaraderie among them. Over the years, the tradition of the CrossFit Girls and New Girls has become a cherished aspect of the CrossFit experience, symbolizing the enduring quest for fitness and personal achievement.