From CrossFit Games to Clay Hands: The Brian Burr Story

Brian Burr competed at the 2021 CrossFit Games on behalf of Timberwolf CrossFit, a rare feat for an athlete from Minnesota. His team qualified by finishing 7th at Granite Games, then earned an invitation after another squad withdrew from competition. But ask Burr what he’s proudest of, and he’ll likely point to BSquaredCeramics—the Etsy shop where he crafts handmade pottery when he’s not training for the Houston Bandits’ United Grid League debut.

The 5’9″ utility player has been deep in CrossFit since fall 2013, bringing over a decade of competition experience to his new team. Before Grid, before the Games, Burr served in the Minnesota Army National Guard, developing the discipline that would define his athletic pursuits. Today, at 185 lbs, he channels that same precision into his pottery—spinning clay into bespoke pieces like the Jumbo Outer Space Mug that collectors seek out on his shop.

In Burr’s telling, clay work is where the real artistry lives. He teaches others the craft, walking them through the meditative process of hand-thrown pottery. The contrast is sharp: a CrossFit Games veteran who considers his ceramic creations far more interesting than any barbell lift. Now, as a fresh face in the Grid, Burr brings both the grit of a Games competitor and the creative restlessness of an artist who refuses to be defined by one discipline. His Instagram (@Brianwburr) offers glimpses into both worlds—the two halves of a competitor who’s learned that excellence takes many forms.