Cedric Lapointe Moves Back Into Top 20 After Winning Open Workout 20.1 Appeal

Oh Canada. Quebec’s own Cedric Lapointe is back in the game after he won his CrossFit Open Workout 20.1 appeal. 

One of the country’s top athletes, Lapointe was penalized after Workout 20.1. Not only was he penalized but it was labeled as a major violation.  Lapointe’s penalty was for  lack of extension during the ground-to-overheads, with his time dropping from 8:16 to 10:46 minutes. 

After issuing an appeal and playing the waiting game, Lapointe won and moved back into the Open top 20.

Lapointe said:

“I’m back in the top 20, my 20.1 appeal got accepted by CF HQ earlier this week. I’m pleased that justice is finally served and I’m grateful for the continuing support of the community.”

There were several well-known athletes who incurred significant penalties for 20.1.

• Samantha Briggs – lack of extension during the ground-to-overheads and single-foot jumps during the burpees
• Cédric Lapointe – lack of extension during the ground-to-overheads
• Frederik Aegidius – single-foot jumps during the burpees
• Aaron Rabin – lack of extension during the ground-to-overheads
• Dane Smith – single-foot jumps during the burpees
• Luka Vunjak – single-foot jumps during the burpees
• Lazar Dukic – lack of extension during the ground-to-overheads

Before his appeal was overturned, Lapointe had some strong words for CrossFit HQ: 

“I’m someone who’s pretty happy in life, rarely sad and never mad, but this morning I am. I’m mad because I’ve sent 3 e-mails to CFHQ for an appeal and never got an answer back. If you don’t have a big name, they’ll step on you and enjoy doing it because they love feeling powerful. The system is stupid and illogical, how can a 8:16 mins become a 10:46 mins? How can I go from 2nd in the world to 900th? How can one persons opinion of my video determine I’m not fit enough to keep my well earned score?

I’m mad because I’m not made of money, I’m a full time athlete, who can’t just compete in every sanctioned event, so qualifying through the open was important to me. I saved money to go to filthy 150 thinking it would be the 1st Sanctioned Event and easier for me to qualify for the CF Games, but they just invited 7 Games athletes. Why cant you not do that in advance? Tell the athletes and stop thinking with your wallet. We’re human beings, we don’t want to be part of your game and when I ask you in advance on IG, have the decency and humility to answer me.

I put my life on hold for 2 years of my own life for a sport (or a brand) that can’t even respect me. Someone who paid their stupid 1K$ to be a CF trainer, someone who’s serving THEIR community and someone who’s been helping THEM grow the last 4 years. Why can’t you respect us, the elite athletes, that are spreading social media of free content for you?

I’m mad because I’m only one person, one person that is trying to fight against an industry that enjoys playing with us, with the rules, the standards and the season like if we were toys and we don’t matter to them. I’m mad because despite all the previous facts, I’m in love with that sport and I’ll keep preaching it every single day. I wish things were different, I wish things were fair. I wish there would be a system that works, but I’m sad that it won’t be with CF.”

As of today (Nov. 5), Lapointe stands at 20th place on the men’s CrossFit Open leader board. Lapointe’s penalty has been reduced to just a five-second minor penalty.

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