Member Spotlight: Austin D.

Member Spotlight: Austin D

From Ole Miss to DC, Austin makes an impact wherever he goes. Six months into CrossFit, Austin has made tremendous progress. From gymnastics to barbell movements, all of our coaches notice Austin’s consistent determination to unlock new skills. Keep pushing – in six months from now, the team can’t wait to see how much Austin accomplishes in the gym and beyond!

How long have you been doing CrossFit (and what inspired you to begin)? How long have you been at CFDC?

I joined CFDC in late March because I had hit 225 lbs. and that’s just not a good look on someone who is 5’6. In addition to both my grandfathers being diagnosed with diabetes, I knew that I had to make a change in my life before it was too late.

Favorite and least favorite CrossFit movements?

My favorite is power cleans and my least favorite is the assault bike.

What do you do when you aren’t flinging heavy weights around the gym?

Fighting to flip the Senate on the digital team of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee.

Favorite post-workout meal?

A gallon of water and an apple.

Favorite CFDC memory to date?

The first time I finished a WOD without throwing up.

Proudest accomplishment (in the gym or beyond)?

Proudest in the gym is being able to hit power cleans in proper form. I think Emily, Thom, and Paul each spent hour after hour working with me so I didn’t look like a fish just flopping around with a barbell.

Outside of the gym I would say have to say being inducted into the Hall of Fame at Ole Miss. To go from being the first person in your family to go to college to watching your Dad bawl like a baby because you’ve made it into the Hall of Fame was truly unimaginable.  

If you had a spirit animal, it’d be…

A honey badger, because honey badger don’t care, honey badger takes what it wants.

Favorite place to travel or escape to?

Not a big traveler, but I like to escape into old school literary journalism. My favorite piece to read is Frank Sinatra Has A Cold by Gay Talese which appeared in Esquire in 1965.

Guilty pleasure?

Drag race and whiskey — it’s a wonderful world.

Tell us something that might surprise most people at the gym.

When I was 10, I fractured my T1 vertebrae playing football and it left me in a state of partial paralysis. I was fine if I was upright, but if I laid down I couldn’t get back up. Spent a few months in neck brace and my Dad picking me up out of bed. 

Tell us about one coaching cue that has helped you the most.

I was extremely intimidated when I first joined because I knew I was overweight, slow, and couldn’t do anything right. I would try to hurry through movements and exercises and one day Thom just stopped me and told me I needed to take my time and not worry about anyone else except myself and what I was doing. It honestly made the biggest difference in how I approached CrossFit and my attitude in the box.

What’s one workout you never, ever, ever want to do again?

Man-makers are really just not all that enjoyable.