From Soldier to CrossFit Champion: The Remarkable Transformation of Charlie Holford

Disabled and Proud

Brooke welcomes back guest Charlie Holford for a catch-up conversation. Charles shares his journey as a below-knee amputee, discussing the challenges he faced after his injury and the years of chronic pain he endured. He opens up about the emotional toll it took on him and how it changed his perspective on his disability.

Charles then shares the transformative impact of his amputation surgery, which led him to open his own CrossFit gym and compete in the Invictus Games. He also discusses the changes in the adaptive arena of CrossFit and his passion for working with both adaptive and non-disabled individuals.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Charles's life has undergone significant changes since their amputation, including opening their own CrossFit gym and competing in the Invictus Games.
• Charles's experience with the adaptive community in CrossFit has led them to want to work with and support others in the adaptive community.
• It's vital to take it easy and allow the body to heal after amputation before pushing oneself to achieve goals.
• Charles has developed a balance between their driven, ambitious side and a newfound empathy and ability to relax and take care of themselves.

BEST MOMENTS

"I became an amputee because, do you want to know the full story?" - Interviewee (Charles)

"I got injured in 2012 in the army... I was told to carry on." - Interviewee (Charles)

"He said, there's nothing wrong with the bone. He's lying about his pain. I would discharge him." - Interviewee (Charles)

"I've had my leg off, and I'm not in pain anymore. And I can do stuff. And I've just been growing the last three years." - Interviewee (Charles)

"WheelWod are going to take 10 above knee amputees, 10 below knee amputees, and 10 people with two full legs that have issues with those legs." - Interviewee (Charles)

VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/disabled-and-proud/id1621152878

HOST BIO

Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves.

The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational.

Disabled & Proud does exactly what it says on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without the need to conform to society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”.

As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection!

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