They Have Full-Time Jobs, Families And Commitments - Just Like you do. The Difference: They Put in the Work, Fight Through the Pain, And Inspire Others to be Better. We Partnered with versace to Bring you their Hard - Earned Lesson. Leverage Them to start your cover Guy Journey.
The Champ
WINNER - Jason Smith
33, CROSSFIT BOX OWNER
1.85m / 90kg
JOBURG
Jason has almost died – twice. Once during a motocross race, when a rough landing turned his bike’s handlebars into an iron punch to the gut, obliterating his kidney and liver. And again, years later, when the scar tissue left behind by the operation to remove his mangled organ caused his intestines to knot up and put his whole system into shock.
That most recent trip to the ER was in 2012; he underwent a seven-hour operation that left him bedridden for a month. He survived on water and an IV drip.
“I lost 20kg, in one month, I went down from 90 to 70,” he says. For this fitness junkie, who started doing CrossFit back in 2008, being sidelined for so long put him in a contemplative state. “I started asking myself, what am I doing with my life? I needed to change things, I needed to better my lifestyle.”
His resurrection began just months later – he built and opened his own CrossFit box. In August this year, he became the first South African to represent the country in the annual Games in Madison. He was a monster, finishing 11th overall (with a 6th-place finish in the devilish Muscle-Up and Clean Ladder). And now he’s representing Europe and Africa in the Team Series in Australia. All that, and he’s also a dad.
“It’s a tough balancing act,” he admits. “But seeing the reaction I’ve had from people locally, that it’s possible not only to get into the Games but to do well, has been rewarding beyond words. Guys thought it was impossible. To see me do it, it’s got them all working harder.” Jason credits much of his prowess in the box to a solid foundation of Arnie-inspired bodybuilding training
This story is from the November 2017 edition of Men's Health South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2017 edition of Men's Health South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
INSTANT PROGRESS THE 28-DAY PULLUP PLAN
JUST 10 MINUTES A DAY FOR A MONTH CAN PUSH YOU FROM PULLUP ZERO TO YOUR FIRST GREAT REPS.
THE MH INTERVIEW STARTER MUSCLE
THE FIRST STEPS ON A NEW FITNESS JOURNEY ARE OFTEN THE TOUGHEST. BUT WITH A FEW TWEAKS TO YOUR THINKING, PT AND PART-OWNER OF MOTLEY CREW CROSSFIT TYRON HATCH WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO STRIDE TOWARDS THE LOFTIEST GOALS.
15 SMART WAYS TO GET AHEAD IN LIFE (BY DOING LITTLE THINGS BETTER)
Self-improvement needn't be a slog. You can make gains-both marginal and meaningful-simply by approaching your day-to-day tasks with a little extra know-how. We raided the MH archives to compile these truly life-enhancing tips from our expert contributors. It's time to level up.
LOVE & LIKES
WHEN DOES SOCIAL-MEDIA FLIRTING BECOME CHEATING? LET’S TALK IT OUT.
FORCE OF NATURE
THE SAS SOLDIER TURNED TV SURVIVALIST HAS MADE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE HIS BUSINESS. BUT WHAT LESSONS DO HIS METHODS HOLD IN OUR INCREASINGLY URBANISED AND ONLINE WORLD?
COLOGNE BUT WITH
YOU BUY COLOGNE TO STAND OUT. SO WHY NOT REALLY STAND OUT? THESE BOLDER SPRITZES SMELL AWESOME AND LAST LONGER, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN USE LESS. OUR PICKS LEVEL UP IN INTENSITY AS YOU MOVE ALONG THE SPECTRUM.
THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO RUNNING LAPS AROUND THE ECONOMY
CATCHING UP WHEN INFLATION IS ALWAYS OUT TO SET A NEW PB CAN FEEL IMPOSSIBLE. PUT THESE 11 EXPERT-APPROVED LESSONS INTO ACTION TO DUCK AND WEAVE AROUND YOUR MONEY WOES
WHY 30-MINUTE WORKOUTS WILL WORK FOR YOU
LESS IS MORE WHEN IT COMES TO EXERCISING FOR FITNESS, STRENGTH AND HEALTH.
UNFREEZE YOUR MIND
ALL MY LIFE, I THOUGHT I WAS A COWARD. THEN I DISCOVERED THAT THE REAL NAME FOR WHAT I'D BEEN FEELING WAS ANXIETY- AND I WAS IN GOOD COMPANY.
DARK PLACES
For any surfer, taking on the monster waves at Nazaré in Portugal is a death-defying risk. For Matt Formston, there's another consideration: he's blind.