Flex Wheeler is a bodybuilding icon who competed against some of the greatest bodybuilders of all time, like Ronnie Coleman and Dorian Yates. A champion himself, Wheeler won the Arnold Classic four times, a record he held for nearly 15 years. While a rare kidney disease cut his bodybuilding career short, the bodybuilder has persevered. Even after losing part of the right leg in 2019, Wheeler continues to inspire and train bodybuilders. So when Wheeler came across a CrossFit athlete with a disability, he couldn’t help but share a clip of the man competing.

Earlier, the legendary bodybuilder also shared a clip of an athlete competing in a CrossFit competition. However, unlike other athletes, he had only one arm. Impressed with the athlete’s spirit, Wheeler shared the clip with an inspiring Walt Disney quote.

The bodybuilding legend acknowledged the spirit of perseverance

The four-time Arnold Classic winner posted a video of Adaptive CrossFit athlete Victor Assaf. The clip shows footage of Assaf at a Crossfit competition performing various timed workouts. The video begins with a snippet of Assaf performing lunges with a kettlebell. It then shows the adaptive athlete on the jumps rope, medicine ball throw, and finally, burpees.

Wheeler shared the clip on his Instagram story, with a sticker that says, “wow” and a quote by Walt Disney. “‘We keep moving forward.’- Walt Disney,” wrote Wheeler.

The former Arnold Classic champion has kept “moving forward” despite many setbacks. Since being diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, he has undergone over 40 lifesaving surgeries. Wheeler has also undergone a kidney transplant and partial amputation. Despite the hardships, his spirit remains undampened.

READ MORE | Flex Wheeler Once Explained His Surprise Defeat to Ronnie Coleman at the 1999 Mr. Olympia, Despite Being in a “Better Shape Than Ever Before”

According to GoodReads, Walt Disney said, “Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious…and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” The billionaire revolutionized animation and cinema. From making the first feature-length animation to producing the first nature documentary, Disney shaped an entire industry. Despite dying in 1966, his indomitable spirit inspires many like Flex Wheeler and Victor Assaf.

Overcoming impossibilities with the sheer strength of will

Ecuador native Victor Assaf survived a horrific motorcycle accident. In an interview with Box Latino Magazine, Assaf said the accident “caused a total brachial plexus tearing and that’s how I lost sensibility and mobility on my right arm.” The doctors had to put him in a coma to save his life. Afterward, doctors told Assaf to forget his dreams of becoming a CrossFit athlete.

Assaf had to re-learn basic skills like eating, getting dressed, walking, balancing, and more. However, he didn’t give up on his dreams of becoming a strength athlete and began doing CrossFit. Today, Assaf is among the leading adaptive cross-fitters in the world.

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Both Wheeler and Assaf have gone through numerous life-threatening incidents, yet they continue to inspire others. What did you think about Assaf’s story? Let us know in the comments.