“Couldn’t See a Way Forward”: 11 Years After Tragedy, Amputee CrossFit Athlete Reveals Struggles Behind Defying Odds With a Brutal Workout

Adaptive athletes, despite their extensive struggle to reach the limelight, have been taking over the world of bodybuilding with their sheer dedication and willpower. There is no doubt that they have broken all types of stigma revolving around amputated physicalities and have created a world by breaking the stereotypes. They are getting closer to becoming the true testaments of the armored human spirit and continue to motivate and influence people to not give up on their lives.

One such very significant figure in the fitness world is Mike Egan. He lost his legs because of a tragedy that happened to him in Afghanistan. However, that was not enough to break down the optimism in him. He continued to beat through the stones life threw at him and took each one of them as a scope of improvising and giving life another chance. As he says, “Excuses are like legs…who needs ‘em”.

Mike Egan: The Epitome of Inspiration and Strength

Egan uses his social media to motivate people and get them to hit the gym with his workouts. He is not just an absolute beat while working out, but also has a physique to die for. However, the road was never easy for him. He just chose to ignore the hurdles and focus on facing the sun with all his might. In his recent post on Instagram, he is seen posting a snippet from his shoulder workout regime and sharing the struggles he had to face in his fitness journey.

Mike says, “I was stuck in my head for a long time. Unable to cope and live my life. I couldn’t see a way forward.” After several years of depression and aimlessness, one fine day, he got up and decided that he had suffered enough and that now he would only live life on his own terms. He got back to the gym and started working out. He says, “Change doesn’t happen overnight. It took a lot of work, reflection, and surrounding myself with people who didn’t always tell me what I wanted to hear, but what I needed to.”

Mike Egan’s mantra: Forward. Always

Egan is a believer in actions and not words. The hero got back to his chair and only looks forward to overcoming all the hurdles. In his post, Egan says, “I stayed down for a long time and I failed to live up to the person I knew I could be, but no more. We keep moving forward, always.” His posts have been a true source of motivation for a lot of people. People actually comment on his videos saying that he is the reason why they get up from the couch and hit the gym!

Read More: Survivor of Over 40 Surgeries, Bodybuilding Veteran Had the Ultimate One-Word Compliment for Adaptive Athlete

What do you think of Mike Egan’s journey? How far do you think has he succeeded in getting people to be optimistic in whatever life throws at them?

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