By the time the final workout ends at Kampung Games, the podium has been decided and the winners celebrated. Yet what often lingers isn’t just the competition itself, but the atmosphere surrounding it. Athletes cheer for one another, friendships are formed across gyms, and first time competitors walk away having achieved something they never thought possible.
That sense of community is no accident.
Founded by Yiren Tan, Kampung Games began as a simple in house competition for members of CrossFit Kampung. Today, it has grown into one of Singapore’s leading functional fitness competitions, welcoming athletes from across the region while remaining grounded in a philosophy that puts people before podiums.
As Singapore’s functional fitness community continues to grow, Kampung Games has established itself as more than another event on the calendar. It has become a platform where everyday athletes can test themselves, celebrate personal milestones and experience the thrill of competition without having to travel overseas.
We speak to Yiren Tan, founder of Kampung Games and CrossFit Kampung, about the journey behind the event, the challenges of growing one of Singapore’s leading functional fitness competitions and why he believes everyone deserves the opportunity to discover what they are capable of.
You could have called the competition anything. Why did you choose the name “Kampung Games”?
The name came naturally because my gym is called CrossFit Kampung, and the first Kampung Games was actually an in house competition for our members.
Most of them weren’t elite athletes or seasoned competitors. We simply wanted to create an opportunity for everyday people to experience what it feels like to compete and to feel like an athlete, even if it was just for one weekend.
As Kampung Games grew, we made a conscious effort to preserve that spirit. While this year’s edition was designed to crown the Fittest in Southeast Asia, it has always been about more than that. It’s about giving anyone willing to step onto the competition floor the chance to challenge themselves, push beyond what they thought was possible and experience what it feels like to compete on a bigger stage.
When you looked at Singapore’s functional fitness scene a few years ago, what did you feel was missing?
A few years ago, there simply weren’t many opportunities for people in Singapore to compete in CrossFit or functional fitness. If you wanted that experience, you often had to travel to Malaysia, Thailand or Indonesia.
While the fitness scene has grown significantly since then, there are still very few CrossFit style competitions locally. Many events focus mainly on strength and cardio, but what makes CrossFit unique is the combination of strength, endurance, gymnastics, weightlifting and skill.
What was also missing was an individual competition. Until Kampung Games, Singapore had never hosted an individual CrossFit competition. We wanted to change that by giving local athletes the opportunity to compete on home soil while welcoming regional athletes to experience our little kampung.
Ultimately, we wanted to create a competition that reflected the well rounded nature of CrossFit while helping to strengthen the local CrossFit community.
When did you realise Kampung Games had become more than just another competition?
I think the defining moment was seeing people achieve things they never thought they could. It wasn’t just about what happened on the competition floor. It was everything that led up to it.
To prepare for Kampung Games, many athletes had to learn skills they had never mastered before or lift weights they never imagined they could. They rose to the challenge because they wanted to be ready.
Watching that transformation made me realise Kampung Games had become more than just a competition. It had become something that inspired people to push beyond the limits they had set for themselves.
What’s one principle you’ve refused to compromise on as Kampung Games has grown?
One thing I’ve never wanted to compromise on is making sure every participant feels valued, not just the podium finishers.
The reality is that most people don’t enter Kampung Games expecting to win. They’re there to challenge themselves, do their best and be part of the experience. That’s why we’ve always made it a point for every athlete to walk away with a meaningful goodie bag as a keepsake of what they’ve achieved.
At the same time, we also believe our champions deserve to be properly rewarded. From the beginning, we wanted our winners to receive meaningful cash prizes rather than just sponsored products or token gifts. It reflects the time, effort and commitment they’ve invested in reaching that level.
What has been the hardest lesson you’ve learnt from building Kampung Games?
This year’s Kampung Games was our biggest leap yet. For the first time, we moved the event out of our gym into an external venue, which meant managing sponsors, a vendor village and many moving parts we had never dealt with before.
There were definitely moments when we questioned whether we had taken on too much and whether people would even notice or appreciate everything happening behind the scenes. Having a committed team beside me made all the difference.
The biggest lesson was that building something meaningful requires taking risks, even when the effort isn’t always visible. You won’t always know if people see everything you’ve put into it, but that’s never been the reason we do it.
If someone attended Kampung Games for the first time, what would you hope they experience?
I hope the first thing they’d notice is the energy. Yes, there’s the sweat, the intensity and the grit, but beyond that, I’d want them to feel inspired.
More importantly, I’d like people to experience the kampung spirit. You’ll see people from different gyms and all walks of life coming together, cheering one another on whether they’re teammates, competitors or complete strangers.
Everyone is taking on the same challenge, and that shared experience creates a genuine sense of community. My hope is that people leave thinking, “I’d love to be part of this one day.”
People see the workouts and the winners. What’s the part of Kampung Games that nobody notices?
People often think Kampung Games is just about creating tough workouts. While the workouts are challenging, the part that took the most work was designing the entire athlete experience.
We always put the athletes first. That includes meaningful goodie bags, hydration stations, recovery areas, proper warm up spaces and a competition schedule that allows athletes to complete their events within a few hours instead of waiting around all day.
Even finding a suitable venue was a huge challenge. We approached many venues and faced multiple rejections before finding one that was willing to accommodate us. It wasn’t perfect, but we focused on delivering the best possible experience for our athletes.
Those details aren’t as visible as the workouts, but they’re what make the event enjoyable. We want athletes to leave feeling that every detail was planned with them in mind.
Looking ten years ahead, what do you hope people remember about Kampung Games?
I hope people remember more than just the workouts or the champions. I hope they remember the experience.
For one weekend, we wanted everyday people to feel like elite athletes. To train for something, step onto the competition floor, challenge themselves and be part of an incredible community.
Ten years from now, I’d love for people to look back and say, “There was a point in my life when I was really fit. I took on one of the toughest competitions around, I got through it and I had an amazing time doing it.” If Kampung Games becomes part of that story, then I’d say we’ve achieved what we set out to do.
More than a competition
Speaking with Yiren Tan, it becomes clear that Kampung Games was never intended to be defined solely by leaderboards or prize money.
While the event has grown significantly from its humble beginnings, its purpose remains remarkably simple. Give ordinary people the opportunity to prepare for something meaningful, test themselves in an environment that celebrates effort as much as achievement, and leave with memories that last long after the final workout.
As Singapore’s functional fitness community continues to evolve, Kampung Games has become a reflection of that journey. It celebrates excellence while remaining accessible, competitive while staying welcoming, and ambitious without losing sight of the community that inspired its name.
About Kampung Games
Kampung Games is an annual functional fitness competition founded by Yiren Tan. Originally launched as an internal competition for members of CrossFit Kampung, it has grown into one of Singapore’s leading functional fitness events, attracting athletes from Singapore and across Southeast Asia.
The competition features multiple divisions for athletes of different abilities, combining strength, endurance, gymnastics, weightlifting and conditioning in a series of workouts designed to test overall fitness.
Find out more
Website: https://www.thekampunggym.com
CrossFit Kampung Instagram: @crossfitkampung
Kampung Games Instagram: @kampung.games
Yiren Tan Instagram: @yirentan
Registration for future editions of Kampung Games will be announced through the official Kampung Games social media channels and website.
Photo credits: Kampung Gym