Remembering Monique: CrossFit Richards Bay Pays Tribute

Monique Vandayar was a young mother, wife, and dedicated CrossFit athlete.

“Monique was an absolute Earth angel,” said Paul Botha, owner and head coach of CrossFit Richards Bay in Richards Bay, South Africa.

When she became sick in late July of 2019, Vandayar suspected an ulcer and sought treatment from her doctor. After many tests and multiple appointments, Vandayar was told she’d need to have her gallbladder removed. After the routine procedure, Vandayar’s health continued to deteriorate. Unfortunately, Vandayar eventually developed septicemia, a life-threatening complication that occurs when the blood is poisoned by bacteria.

Monique with her husband, Gary, and their two kids, Breydon (left) and Peyton (right).

Immediately coming to her aid, the community at CrossFit Richards Bay sprang to action, hosting blood drives and supporting Vandayar and her young family however they could while she tried to recover. But the septicemia was advanced, and Vandayar died on Aug. 22, 2019.

“It was an absolute shock,” said Stacey Pretorius, coach at CrossFit Richards Bay and friend of Vandayar.

Vandayar’s death shook the affiliate community to its core, but they continued to be of service, helping Vandayar’s husband, Gary, adapt to a new routine as a single parent with two young kids, Peyton who was 8 at the time, and Breydon, who was 7.

“Members of the community stepped up to fill the tasks Monique used to do,” Botha said. “‘All right, the kids get to school at 8 a.m. Did you pack their lunch? What’s in their lunch?’ I mean, it takes seven people to do a mom’s job.”

“Basically, everybody took a chore and ran with it,” Pretorius added.

Honoring Monique

Before finding CrossFit, Vandayar was hesitant to even dabble in the fitness realm as she lived with severe scoliosis that caused chronic pain. But when she gave CrossFit a try, she fell in love with it, Pretorius said, and it became part of her regular routine.

An absolute pillar in the community, a true example of human kindness, and longtime member at CrossFit Richards Bay, Vandayar volunteered at soup kitchens regularly and had a special energy that attracted people when she entered a room, said Pretorius.

“She was always the first to step up to help when our box held community events or anything like that.”

So when Vandayar died, Pretorius and Botha knew they wanted to find a way to honor her memory and ensure her legacy would live on for years to come.

“She was such a presence in the community and everybody wanted to do something in her honor. We saw fit to do that by creating a workout especially for her with the things that she loved most,” Pretorius said, adding, “How do you make sure someone’s legacy lives on and commemorate them year after year? It’s awesome to do that with CrossFit.”

Botha and Pretorius programmed the workout, Monique, with her favorite movements and rep schemes in mind. The 1,984-m run represents the year of her birth, 35 represents her age at the time of her death, and the 2,019-m row represents the year of her death.

“She felt empowered through dumbbell work,” Pretorius said, “and she hated doing anything more than three rounds.”

The Community

Each year, CrossFit Richards Bay celebrates Monique’s life by rallying the affiliate community in South Africa and completing the workout created in her honor.

“We do it every year with the goal of honoring her through the suffering,” Botha said. “The goal  is to spread the word of what an incredible person Monique was. I don’t think I ever saw that woman not smile, even after a workout.”

And spread the word they did.

Thirteen other affiliates throughout the province have started programming Monique’s workout, honoring her yearly and supporting their fellow affiliate community from afar.

“There is a magic that happens inside the box when something like this happens,” Pretorius said. “To honor somebody who was very special to a community is very important. In Monique’s case, the impact that it had on the community is something that nobody can explain. I feel like CrossFit pays tribute in such a nice way.”

Being a part of the CrossFit community is like being a part of a family, Botha said. The bond that is created through the shared suffering, hard work, and perseverance in the gym transcends familial boundaries, and what results is an unrivaled, unwavering community.

“That community becomes your family,” Pretorius said. “And families suffer together.”