CrossFit was founded by former gymnast Greg Glassman, and the first CrossFit affiliated gym opened in Santa Cruz in 1995. CrossFit itself is a strength and conditioning fitness methodology that promotes broad and general overall physical fitness using a myriad of exercises more commonly found in the activities of weightlifting, sprinting, and gymnastics.

Designed to enhance a wide array of physical characteristics simultaneously such as cardiovascular endurance, power, flexibility, speed, agility, and balance, the popularity of CrossFit has truly taken off in recent years. The number of affiliated gyms grew from 18 in 2005 to almost 1,700 in 2010.

via The CrossFit Games: An Action Sports Investment Opportunity in the Making « SportsMoney – Forbes.com.