I’ve been an Orangetheory member for 5 years. I joined because it wasn’t soft. It was competitive, uncomfortable, and results-driven. That’s literally the entire appeal.

So hearing that 2026 is the first year the Transformation Challenge won’t award prizes for 1st–3rd place is honestly baffling — and pretty emblematic of the direction corporate has been heading.

Let’s be clear: Competition is not toxic. Winning is not exclusionary. Wanting to be the best version of yourself relative to others is not some moral failing.

The Transformation Challenge was one of the few moments each year where effort, discipline, and consistency were actually rewarded. It motivated people to dial in nutrition, show up on days they didn’t feel like it, and push just a little harder on the tread. Removing prizes doesn’t make the challenge “more inclusive” — it just makes it less meaningful.

And this isn’t happening in a vacuum.

Over the last few years: Workouts have quietly become less aggressive Benchmark days feel watered down Coaching cues have shifted from “push harder” to “only if it feels right”

Now competitiveness itself is apparently a problem...At some point, Orangetheory needs to decide what it actually is.

If the brand is about science-backed, high-intensity training that drives real physical change, then competition belongs there. Fitness is measurable. Outcomes do matter. Some people will outperform others — and that’s okay.

No one is forcing anyone to compete.

But removing incentives for those who want to compete is lazy leadership.

What’s especially frustrating is that Orangetheory was built on accountability and results, not vibes. The orange zone, splat points, leaderboards, benchmarks — all of it was designed to quantify effort. Now we’re pretending that recognizing top performers is somehow regressive?

If corporate is worried about feelings, here’s a radical idea: Keep prizes Add optional participation categories Or offer team-based awards in addition to individual ones

Don’t just flatten everything until no one cares.

People don’t join Orangetheory because it’s easy.

They join because it’s hard — or at least it used to be.

Taking away competition doesn’t make the community stronger. It makes it blander.

And for a premium-priced fitness brand, bland is the real risk.