"As much as I thrived, it was a coping mechanism. CrossFit became everything. That was my validation for the day: a good training session or hitting a PR. That's what I would do with my life, rather than anything else to go along with it."
"It got to the point where, if I didn't do something about it, nothing was going to get better. I remember thinking, '35 is not particularly young. There must be more to life than this.'"
"When the Irish native first found CrossFit, the intense routines served as a needed outlet. He was dealing with personal tragedy and drinking away his pain. His first wakeup call arrived during his first session. There were eight other women in the class, and they all kicked his behind."
PD Savage, a 36-year-old CrossFit champion and engineer from Ireland, used intense training as a shield to avoid dealing with his identity and romantic desires. He underwent eight surgeries during his competitive career, pushing his body to collapse while using fitness achievements as his primary source of validation. After years of personal stagnation, Savage came out as gay last year and began publicly sharing his story. He initially discovered CrossFit as an outlet while dealing with personal tragedy and alcohol abuse. His dedication transformed him into one of Ireland's top competitors over a decade. Since coming out, Savage has found greater fulfillment and now hopes to help other struggling gay athletes escape similar patterns of avoidance.
#lgbtq-athletes #mental-health-and-coping-mechanisms #crossfit-competition #coming-out-story #identity-and-self-acceptance
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