EFFICACY

When teenager Luke Fletcher and his grandmother, Pat Derbyshire, walked into Dragon Athletic, they were both a little broken. Fletcher had been bullied relentlessly throughout school; meanwhile, Derbyshire was on a long and difficult road to recovery following a near-fatal brain bleed.

When Mike Stadshaug saw his mom, Lee, struggling to work through the grief of losing her husband, he knew from personal experience how he could help.

The Phoenix, a nonprofit founded in Boulder, Colorado, uses CrossFit for athletes who are recovering from addiction. Per Ignem CrossFit, the affiliate within The Phoenix, takes its name from the Latin for “through fire.” “Just like the story of the phoenix rising from the ashes, that’s what happens here for people in recovery,” says founder Scott Strode.

Since starting CrossFit two years ago, Pegg has lost 168 pounds and even found a way to combine CrossFit with her dream of becoming a personal trainer. 

The CrossFit Scholarship Program seeks to spark meaningful healthcare changes in underrepresented and underserved communities by providing free access to the CrossFit Level 1 Certificate Course. CrossFit, in partnership with Steve’s Club and the Green Beret Project, recently held its fourth Scholarship Level 1 Course at CrossFit South Philly in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

After years of pressure to win the Games, Sheila Barden is now living a life without expectations.

Blindness, homelessness, addiction, cancer, diabetes — veteran Charles King has had more than his fair share of struggles in his 70 years. But instead of letting that break him, King found the will to survive, and CrossFit has helped him thrive. 

Ryan Johnson saw the COVID-19 quarantine as an opportunity. His weight-loss journey began. 

Laurie Roth decided to change her nutrition habits, which resulted in a 60-lb. weight loss. 

Jenn Green credits consistent CrossFit training and precise nutrition for helping her get fit and healthy while shifting her mindset for the better.

Kathy Dalton started CrossFit at age 54. She sits down to chat with Michael Dalton, her son and also her coach at Motivus CrossFit in Spartanburg, South Carolina, about her decision to live a longer, healthier life.

While pregnant with her first child, Mandy Engle decides to continue working out with husband Chas at CrossFit Takeover in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Chas says people are sometimes surprised when Mandy declines help when carrying groceries or dog food, but the two agree she’s pregnant, not dead, and can handle daily life and fitness training.

CrossFit coach Mike Suhadolnik had an idea to challenge doctors to set a better example for their patients and communities.

Connie Arismendi says the life of an artist is solitary. That changed when she discovered CrossFit.

Veteran CrossFit Games athlete Carey Kepler and husband Kris are committed to sharing their passion for wellness with their two kids, Savannah and Stone.

Tom Downey, 26, is on a mission to save his life. “Coming to CrossFit compared to a normal gym, with the environment, with the community, with everybody who’s around, that’s what keeps me going," he says.

Some compete to be named Fittest on Earth, Hoshaw competed with time and age—and she’s won.

“I was on Wellbutrin for anxiety. I was on cholesterol medication … . I wasn’t getting any advice to work out. It was just, ‘Here’s another medicine,’” Bob Soulliere recalls. “The gift was that I got laid off.” With his newfound free time, Soulliere started taking CrossFit classes. “When I walked into CrossFit, no question, stress was managing me, and now I manage stress,” he says.

When she came to CrossFit Wilsonville, McDonald was in a wheelchair. The coaches were in awe of McDonald’s story and were ready to begin helping her on the journey to recovery.

“It’s phenomenal,” Wilford says. “It was magic. Before I started going to the gym to CrossFit, I was walking with a stick all the time. I’m using it less and less. … I can walk unaided.”