The CrossFit Games are trading gold medals for Glock metal.
(FOX)- The founder of the hugely popular competition, for which Reebok is the title sponsor, recently announced he would give away the pistols to the winners, referring to the plan as “glock for the podium.”
“The top male athlete, the top female athlete, and every member of the winning team will receive a GLOCK pistol,” Dave Castro, Director of the CrossFit Games and a former Navy SEAL, wrote in a posting on the Facebook page for the CrossFit Games, along with a flashy video highlighting the popular pistol.
The CrossFit Games began Tuesday at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
People immediately expressed outrage over Castro’s announcement on social media and in comments on the post, saying that it was in poor taste given recent tragedies like the Orlando and Dallas massacres and spate of police-involved shootings.
“Crossfit needs to rethink its sponsorship and marketing strategies,” said one angry Facebook user in the comments section. “You’re a global brand. Take a minute to analyze our current gun situation in America and around the world before you sign these contracts. NO REP!”
As of Friday, nearly 20,000 people signed an online petition demanding that the CrossFit Games cancel the Glock prize.
Castro, who was a SEAL for over a decade and a competitive shooter for the past six years, said that he has received as much positive response as negative.
“[M]ost are only focusing on the negative aspect of it,’ he told FoxNews.com. “Guns are legal in all 50 states and they are a normal part of life for millions of law abiding citizens. I am one of those and proud of it.”
The CrossFit Games director pointed out the organization has given out similar prizes in the past and even held events that combined CrossFit and competitive shooting. He added that winners of the competition will not be getting the actual pistols but rather a gift certificate to purchase one if they desire.