Canadian legend and many people’s favourite CrossFit athlete is retiring after the Rogue Invitational. Brent Fikowski announced he will be no longer stepping onto the competition floor on his Instagram.
Fikowski mentioned that his last competition will be the 2024 Rogue Invitational which takes place in Scotland, November 8-10, so at the end of this week. The Canadian jewel is adamant that people won’t see him “accidentally” qualifying to the CrossFit Semifinals or anything – he doesn’t even plan on doing the CrossFit Open next year.
In an interview with Morning Chalk Up, Fikowski explained that the time seemed right to focus on being part of the Professional Fitness Athletes’ Association (PFAA).
“For months, I have been splitting my time between being an athlete and PFAA initiatives, and I have decided to make the PFAA into the success I know it can be for the next group of athletes that come after me. This is how I need to spend all of my efforts.”
Fikowski won’t be able to continue serving on the PFAA’s board of directors (only competing athletes are allowed), but he intends to dive head in as the PFAA’s president, a position he was elected to by the board.
In his own words, Fikowski wants to help CrossFit athletes to become true professional athletes.
AWESOME TRANSFORMATIONS – Brent Fikowski before CrossFit (and 7 of his Workouts)
Full Retirement Announcement from Brent Fikowski
After 12 years competing in this sport, the 2024 Rogue Invitational will be my last competition.
It’s been a tough decision knowing I’m still at my best and improving. But the excitement for a new set of challenges far outweighs any sadness I have saying goodbye to this chapter of my life. The level of focus I gave while competing I can now put into what is setting my soul on fire; improving this sport via @thepfaa to help the next generation have it even better than I did.
Don’t expect me to give anything less than 100% next week at the @rogueinvitational – I plan to go out with a bang. #FinishEmpty
Brent Fikowski By the Numbers
Brent Fikowski is a former volleyball player who tried the CrossFit Open for the first time in 2013. The next two years, he would narrowly miss qualifying to the CrossFit Games, which only happened in 2016. That year, he put his name on everyone’s mouth by finishing 4th overall behind Mat Fraser (who won his first Games ever), Ben Smith (who had won the previous year), and Pat Vellner (also competing for the first time individually).
Fikowski would go on to compete at every CrossFit Games edition until the end of his career. Famously, the Canadian powerhouse has never won the Games in his life – he came closest in 2017 when he finished 2nd behind Mat Fraser.
This past season, everyone thought it would be Fikowski’s year as he was the leader at the 2024 CrossFit Games with only one event left to do. However, he finished the event 20th and saw James Sprague and Dallin Pepper taking over – Fikowski took the bronze medal.
The only other time Fikowski finished on the podium at the CrossFit Games was in 2021 where Justin Medeiros took on 1st and Pat Vellner 2nd.
Fikowski competed for the first time at the Rogue Invitational last year (ended up 4th behind Pat Vellner, Jeff Adler, and Roman Khrenniko, respectively). Now Rogue Invitational will be his last time competing professionally before turning his focus to the PFAA and being behind-the-scenes in the Sport he adores.
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