In Athletes, CrossFit Games, Videos
April 18, 2011
“Push yourself beyond limits because it pays off in dividends,” says Hector Delgado of CrossFit Stony Brook.
Join Jennifer Hunter, a reporter for the Reebok CrossFit Games, as she interviews an inspiring athlete. Delgado is a CrossFitter who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was severely injured in Iraq during the invasion in 2003. He’s wheelchair-bound but has modified and scaled the workouts to continue to compete in the Open. Hunter catches him after workout 11.2 at CrossFit Old Bethpage/CrossFit Central Long Island in Farmingdale, N.Y.
After he returned to the States, Delgado says he had a rough time, both physically and mentally.
“I basically gave up for about a year on myself,” he says. “I did some disabled sports, but it wasn’t for me. I wanted to get out of the wheelchair.”
Then he found CrossFit, and, as he says, “the rest is history.”
“CrossFit has changed my life physically—I mean I could clearly do a lot more now with my limitations than I did when I was an able body. And mentally, I mean I don’t look at an obstacle in life as, ‘Well, I’m not sure if I can do this.’ I try to figure out a way that I can do this.“
7min 05sec
Additional reading: Athletes—Always by Russell Berger, published Nov. 4, 2010.
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30 Comments on ““Push Yourself Beyond Limits””
1
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Great feature, inspirational!
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2
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Inspirational! Thank you, Hector!
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3
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This guy is my hero!!! What a freaking testament to will and determination.
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4
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Never underestimate the Marines! Absolutely outstanding!
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5
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Hooah!! You are truly a warrior.
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6
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Hector, you are a bad ass.
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7
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Hector, you truly are an inspirational beast! You keep it up the fight, not just for yourself but for those around you. Semper Fi Marine!
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8
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WOW. Absolutely amazing! You're an inspiration Hector.
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9
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legit. True firebreather.
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10
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it's stories like yours hector, that spark the fire for all of us crossfitters!!! you're an integral part to our community and I would like to personally thank you for sharing your dedication and determination! i wish you the best of health and great success in this years games :) !!!!!
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11
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You're the fucking man! :D
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12
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Nothing can stop that Marine! Oo-rah!
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13
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Incredible video. The word 'inspiring' gets thrown around a lot, but it is fitting for Hector. Thank you, CFJ, for making this a free video. I will definitely share it with others.
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14
Gerard Mcauliffe wrote …
Just brilliant. Respect!
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15
wrote …
Wow that is amazing!
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16
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hector is a beast!
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17
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Hector, you give me and I hope all, the courage to do what we know is possble....
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18
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My god youre awesome!
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19
Rob Barrese wrote …
BZ Devil Dawg!
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20
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Leading by example. Solid work.
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21
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Oorah Bulk Fueler! 8th ESB represent!
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22
Daniel Andrews wrote …
Hector,
Thank you first for your service in the USMC, and now for your service in inspiring this community!
God bless you!
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23
wrote …
Hector,
I was choked up for 7:00 full minutes. Truly inspirational. Thank you!
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24
wrote …
Great story! Keep it up man!
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25
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OoRah, Devildog! Motivating.
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26
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So freaking awesome! Makes me think about how weak my own self indulgent excuses and rationlizations can be. I love the idea about not thinking that you can't do something...thinking how you will get it done. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
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27
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Hector, you are an inspiration to all. Thank you for sharing your story.
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28
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Hector, you are an inspiration to all. Thank you for sharing your story.
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29
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Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for making me reflect how much more I should be capable of.
Eres un chingón!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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30
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The Wall Street Journal did a story on Hector doing CrossFit over a year ago. I clipped the article and hung it on the bulletin board at my gym. I wondered from time to time how Hector was doing. This video warms my heart. All the best to you, Hector.
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