Australia’s fitness scene is at the epicenter of a legal showdown between two thriving influencers as millions of dollars hang in the balance. Kayla Itsines, the powerhouse behind the Bikini Body Training Company, hailed from South Australia, spearheading a legal expedition against Queensland’s forthcoming crossfit sensation, Cass Olholm. The contention at heart is the imminent launch of Olholm’s fitness enterprise, Train With Cass on the Apple App store on October 12.
Representing Itsines in the South Australian Supreme Court, Nicholas Swan, asserts that Olholm, a previous contractor for Itsines, breached trade restraint by readying her fresh enterprise. Swan indicted Olholm’s launch as a violation of a 12-month restraint agreement, a pact that was etched during their amicable collaboration in the fitness sphere.
Swan unveiled his client’s plea for a court injunction aiming to stymie the debut of Train With Cass till March 1, 2024. This date marks a year after Olholm’s farewell from Itsines’ professional circle.
However, Olholm’s defender, Thomas McFarlane, argues that the stated restraint period reached its expiration six months prior. McFarlane dispelled allegations of misuse or unauthorized access to confidential data, casting the restraint as a measure to suppress competition.
Bikini Body Training Company is acclaimed for its widely-admired Sweat fitness program which amasses over 5 million downloads on Google Play. Sweat was offloaded to a US organization, IFit, in 2021 for an approximated $400m by Itsines herself.
Olholm, having made frequent appearances on Itsines’ Facebook pages since her collaboration with Sweat in 2020, dedicated approximately $580,000 for her new venture – Train With Cass. The program, once launched, would cost an individual $21.99 monthly or an annual $139.99.
The court’s advice for both parties was to deliberate a mutually agreeable solution. Judge Dart even contemplated on suggesting a possible nine-month restraint agreement, urging to prevent inflating monetary expenses on legalities. He iterated that post March next year, Olholm could anyway advance with her scheme.
Both parties are now adjourned till October 10 to justify their stances in greater depth while Judge Dart explores the possibility of mediation to absolve this fitness feud.
