The most fitness-demanding and gruelling sport in the country, the CrossFit Fatutoa Toa Games ended on Saturday, with Australian teams Fia Ola taking out the elite division, and Sifiao the scaled division.

Since its inaugural year in 2016, the Toa Game has grown exponentially and this year featured 26 teams including teams from other countries in the region.

This was the largest fitness event in Samoa, drawing in athletes from many of the different gyms in the country, and also overseas teams from American Samoa, Australia and New Zealand. 

CrossFit Samoa Head Coach Brandon Sefo said it had been an incredible journey, which has seen their gym evolve over the years from what was just a few numbers to a full-blown community of fitness fanatics.

“What started as a small event for our gym community to celebrate their hard work through team tests, has transformed into a major event on Samoa’s fitness calendar drawing in teams from overseas,” he said. "We wanted to create an event that would not only challenge athletes.

"But also serves as a platform for people to come together and celebrate their passion for fitness. Whether you're a seasoned CrossFit veteran or trying it out for the first time, there's a place for you at the Toa Competition.

“We are excited to welcome many new athletes who competed for the first time, as well as welcome back athletes who have competed before.” 

One of the hallmarks of the event is its welcoming nature. Athletes of all fitness levels and backgrounds are encouraged to participate, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and supported. 

The Toa Games is more than just a showcase of physical fitness; it's a celebration of community and inclusivity.

Xavier Martel led his team called Ethos all the way from Rotorua in New Zealand to be a part of the games and is excited to be back having been one of the original members of the gym.

“It has been such an amazing well-run competition, just from seeing the organising, the judging, and the volunteers are awesome. We just love it and we’ve been trying to get our team used to the heat,” he said. “We are originally from Samoa. I used to coach here at Fatutoa before we left four years ago for New Zealand.

"The main difference I see now is just how big CrossFit has become in Samoa and it’s so nice to see the amount of people here and we just know that it’s going to get even bigger and we are happy to be a part of it.”

CrossFit is a branded fitness regimen that involves constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity. The method was developed by Greg Glassman, who founded CrossFit with Lauren Jenai in 2000, with CrossFit as its registered trademark.

The company forms what has been described as the biggest fitness chain in the world, with around 12,000 affiliated gyms in over 150 countries as of 2022, under half of which are located in the United States.

CrossFit is promoted as both a physical exercise philosophy and a competitive fitness sport, incorporating elements from high-intensity interval training, Olympic weightlifting, plyometrics, powerlifting, gymnastics, kettlebell lifting, callisthenics, strongman, and other exercises.