CrossFit Athlete Paralyzed After Suffering Severed Spine In Fitness Competition
28-year old Kevin Ogar has been paralyzed after a freak accident at the 2014 OC Throwdown. The CrossFit community isn't letting him go through the struggle alone.
On Jan. 12, Kevin Ogar severed his spine during a freak accident at a fitness competition in Orange County, Calif.
As Kevin is currently without health insurance, the community has started to collect funds to help him. So far they have raised over $200,000 through donations, the sale of t-shirts and by holding an "Ogar WOD" at gyms throughout the country.
Kevin "has such a bright light that shines from him that everybody knows who Kevin is," CrossFit Unbroken owner Matt Harmony told CBS Denver.
“It’s just such a life-changing thing to happen…it really touched me to the core," Harmony said. "A lot of us believe he’s going to walk again. I just want him to come home.”
CrossFit fever has grown worldwide, with more than 7,000 gyms offering the military-style workout program.
Some critics have called CrossFit dangerous, saying it promotes "over-exercising," which can be particularly damaging if the athlete has bad form while lifting large amounts of weight.
Berger believes the program is "absolutely worth the risk."