CrossFit Games

Scott Panchik Scheduled for Torn ACL Surgery Thursday

May 28, 2022 by
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MRI results revealed 9-time CrossFit Games athlete Scott Panchik tore his ACL last weekend after landing on extra rope left on the ground while performing rope climbs in event 3 at the Syndicate Games. Panchik finished the event but withdrew shortly afterward.

  • Panchik will undergo surgery Thursday to repair his torn ACL, “along with a complex tear of medial and lateral meniscus”, according to a post he made on Instagram.

The big picture: CrossFit has come under harsh criticism for failing to listen to athletes’ safety concerns raised during the briefing.

  • Panchik and others raised specific concerns during the athlete briefing but were told “nothing could be done to change the ropes.”
  • Adrian Bozman and CrossFit’s competition liaison Becky Harsh were both in attendance at the briefing but denied knowledge of hearing concerns raised.

What athletes are saying: “Scott and I both went up to the event organizer and a couple other people who we thought were in charge…we brought it up to three different people in the hopes it would get down to someone that was in charge that could make that decision and we kind of got the runaround three times— mostly it was just ‘not anything we can do about it right now,” said Ben Smith.

  • Haley Adams: “Exact same worries here. Thinking of you and sending you good vibes! You’re a legend.”
  • Ben Smith: “It made me really angry… For CrossFit to say it’s anybody’s fault but theirs is absolutely ridiculous.”
  • Amanda Barnhart: “I asked about cutting the ropes last year and was given the same answer. So sorry to hear this Scott! You’re such a legend in this sport!”
  • Alec Smith: “So sorry to hear this. The extra rope on the ground was ridiculous.”
  • Fee Saghafi: “There is nothing we can do” is the lamest excuse to ever give your athletes when their SAFETY is on the line….what a DISAPPOINTMENT”
  • Sam Dancer: “It really bothers me that ropes are on the floor this day and age, haven’t we learned? There is something that could be done. Get the tools and cut the gosh damn ropes. It would take 20 minutes with kitchen knife and tape. Makes me even more upset that you brought it up and nothing was done.”

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