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Crossfit Redefined: Redefining "Disabled"

I've been waiting to do this blog because I wanted to get the video footage but recently I had the pleasure or sampling food at a crossfit competition. I thought i was going to a walk to benefit those in chairs but was pleasantly surprised when I walked into a warehouse turned cross fit gym.

The owner Angel Gonzalez rolled up to my car while I was unloading with a smile and we made introductions. He told me this was their first event that incorporated wheelchair athletes. I was eager to see the outcome.
 Having just recently seeing the Crossfit Games on television with my fiance we saw how intense crossfit really is. We both workout doing weight training but saw that crossfit is a good way to achieve overall fitness. This was truly one of the most intense things I've seen, there were so many people cheering and encouraging the participating athletes to push themselves to their fitness limits.

The males went first, then the females and lastly the wheelchair athletes took the mat.
 I didn't expect them to do pull ups with their chairs tightly strapped to their bodies. I can't do a single pull up without assistance and these guys  did them in their chairs. One participant went to far as to do a pull up then a dip on top of the bar!
Angel Gonzalez, owner (blue shirt)


  After the competition ended the times and winners were announced, the winner from the male division & female division got partnered up with the top two in the wheelchair division and had a "special challenge" to compete in. The video below shows the challenge.



Angel Gonzalez told me it was a good way for able bodied athletes to see what it is like to have to overcome obstacles being in a chair, these two able bodied athletes finished at the top of their divisions but once they sat in the chair everything changed. 



After everyone left my coworker and I got in chairs and wheeled around the warehouse to see that it was like to be in a chair and we saw it's not as easy as it looks. After a few minutes we started feeling like we were doing upper body workouts at the gym. This definitely changed our views on those in chairs and I think everyone in attendance could say the same. I am so glad I worked this event and I look forward to any and all future events I can be involved in.

Angel has such an amazing spirit and doesn't let his chair stop him from living life to the fullest. He told us he goes boogie boarding, he's done a mud dash and more. He said if his chair fits, he's going. He's the perfect example to show people that life can throw you come major curve balls and it may bend you, but it doesn't have to break you.

Jourdan

I'm a right-brained Lousiana born Cali girl. I'm a former dancer, basktball player and theater kid turned media swiss army knife and gym rat. I love Jamba Juice, photography and the beach. I live in sunny Florida with my amazing husband Solomon.

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