WFP is looking for the most complete athlete

The boundaries between CrossFit, athletics and traditional strength testing are blurring. That is clear from the programming of the upcoming stop of the World Fitness Project (WFP), where athletes are tested not only on their ability to move heavy barbells or perform complex gymnastic movements, but also on qualities that normally belong on an NFL combine or athletics track.

With a program ranging from a 40-yard sprint to a 10-kilometer time trial and from a maximum bench press record to heavy sled flips, the WFP appears to be searching for a different definition of fitness.

More than just CrossFit

Where many competitions within the functional fitness world still rely heavily on familiar CrossFit events, the World Fitness Project takes a broader approach.

The weekend opens with tests that seem to come straight from the world of American football. Athletes are assessed on the 40-yard dash, the broad jump and the 5-10-5 agility test. These events measure not so much endurance but speed, explosiveness and coordination.

That means qualities are tested that are rarely decisive in traditional fitness competitions.

For many competitors, this requires a completely different preparation than usual.

From sprint to endurance

The contrast grows even sharper when a 10-kilometer time trial appears on the schedule later in the weekend.

Where a short sprint is all about explosiveness and power production, a 10-kilometer demands efficiency, pacing and aerobic capacity. The combination of both disciplines within a single event makes it nearly impossible for specialists to rely solely on their strengths.

Athletes who normally excel in heavy workouts suddenly have to compete with strong runners, while excellent endurance athletes are later confronted with pure strength tests.

That makes the field far harder to predict than at many other competitions.

A return of pure strength

Also notable is the inclusion of a maximum bench press.

Although the bench press is a classic element of strength training, it is relatively rarely used as a standalone test in CrossFit-style competitions. That is precisely why the decision has sparked considerable debate.

Supporters see it as a fair measurement of upper-body strength. Critics point out that the bench press has less carryover to the functional movements that normally take center stage in the sport.

Either way, the event will likely cause significant shifts in the standings. A number of athletes have a strength training background and could pick up major points here compared to competitors who are traditionally stronger in gymnastics or conditioning work.

The search for the ultimate all-rounder

What the programming makes clear above all is that the World Fitness Project is deliberately distancing itself from the idea that one training style is enough.

Alongside sprinting, endurance and strength, the program also includes handstand push-ups, heavy sled flips, rope climbs, muscular endurance, swimming, cycling, rowing and Olympic weightlifting.

The winner will therefore not necessarily be the fastest runner. Nor the strongest weightlifter or the best gymnast.

The goal seems clear: find the athlete who is good at everything.

A new direction for functional fitness?

More and more organizers are looking for ways to define functional fitness more broadly than traditional CrossFit workouts alone. The success of events like Hyrox has shown that athletes are open to other forms of competition.

With its combination of sprint tests, endurance work, strength measurements and classic fitness events, the World Fitness Project appears to be pushing that development even further.

For spectators, that offers an interesting perspective. Not only because the competitions become more varied, but especially because they raise new questions.

How fast does an elite fitness athlete actually need to be? How strong? How well does he need to run?

The World Fitness Project seems determined not to answer those questions separately, but all at once. And that is precisely why this competition could turn out to be one of the most complete fitness tests of the year.