free CrossFit classes for over 60s

To raise awareness among older people about practicing sports, the Department of Seine-Maritime has entered into an agreement with the Rouen gym CrossFit Ballers. Are you 60 or over and regularly go to the gym? These courses are free for you!

Lift weights, develop your cardio, strengthen your muscles. The activity which combines fitness and bodybuilding is not reserved for young people. You can have been, and still be, a great athlete at 60, 70, and even 80 years old.

For several years, Anthony Andriamirado has welcomed people of all ages and all physical conditions to his Rouen CrossFit gym. This sporting activity combines varied exercises and intense training, but is aimed at both beginners and accomplished athletes. Enot only anymore to young people in search of the “dream body”.

Hence Anthony’s idea of ​​adapting his practice to an elderly audience, who too often move away from gyms.

They are the legends: the men and women who are over 60, but who do not intend to let go or give up their shape. Luc has always played sports, and there is no question of him letting go.

At 63, he intends to remain the seducer he has always been. Corinne was immobilized for many months after a major foot operation. Thanks to Crossfit, she is gradually regaining mobility that she thought she had lost. Jean-Paul is 74 years old, and has never been very sporty. But his back hurt and he struggled to raise his arms.

He can now do his garden without difficulty, and lifts dumbbells with a light heart. The “Bring back your legend” group was born from all these desires to improve or maintain one’s health.

The “Légendes” group is at the origin of the agreement signed between CrossFit Ballers and the Department of Seine-Maritime, as part of the system to prevent loss of autonomy.

Thanks to this partnership, CrossFit Ballers obtained subsidies in June 2024, which allows the structure to offer free classes to people aged 60 and over who come at least six times a month.

It’s quite innovative, we’re proud of it. Normally, these grants are awarded to non-profit sports associations. We must be part of the precursors.

Anthony Andriamirado – manager of the structure

The objective of the Department and the club is clear: promote physical activity in this age group, reduce their risk of falls, and maintain their levels of autonomy for as long as possible.

For those who have small pensions, it is a relief or comfort not to have to pay for this type of activity.

Anthony Andriamirado – manager of the structure

Since then, the enthusiasm has been verified. CrossFit Ballers offers six one-hour slots of lessons per week for over 60s.

Each group is made up of a maximum of seven people with a coach. “That’s what allows you to adapt theinBetweenînement in function physical condition and pathologies of each”, explains Anthony.

In six months, the club is already seeing the positive effects of this agreement. “We at least haveforgotten our number of members, free access is really a vector of new arrivals”, Anthony Andriamirado is happy.

We have good word of mouth because our members see changes in their daily lives, so our best salespeople are them.

Anthony Andriamirado – manager of the structure

Still according to the manager, some of the sixty-year-olds who came to the courses with cases of depression or back pain, he said he felt much better.

However, the club cannot afford to communicate too much about this offer on its website, because the subsidies obtained thanks to the Department would not be enough to cover all the costs.

We must maintain free tuition, but if we triple or quadruple, we will have to do more courses and therefore increase the payroll, but with the subsidies we have, this is not possible.

Anthony Andriamirado – manager of the structure

Anthony and his team wish to renew this partnership with the Department next year.
But the current budgetary context casts doubts on the budget of local authorities, and on the amount of subsidies possibly reallocated to the Crossfit Ballers structure.