Everyone Is an Athlete: Adapting the Open for All Abilities (Feat. Sarah Tucker)

In this episode, Mat Hotho sits down with Sarah Tucker, founder of Uncharted Adaptive Fitness Virginia, to explore the transformative power of Adaptive CrossFit. Sarah shares her journey from childhood experiences helping a blind child at T-ball practice to opening her own gym dedicated to adaptive fitness. With a background in physical therapy and a deep understanding of motor development, Sarah brings a unique perspective to coaching athletes with autism, spinal cord injuries, and stroke recovery. The conversation dives into specific coaching techniques, like teaching a client with dyspraxia to jump by grounding him at the rig and using visual cues, and how she's preparing a stroke survivor to carry his soon-to-be-born baby. Sarah discusses the intersection of mental health and strength training, her approach to adapting CrossFit Open workouts for her athletes, and the importance of building community in the adaptive fitness world. For coaches and gym owners interested in starting or expanding adaptive fitness programs, the Adaptive Training Academy offers grant funding and guidance to support the creation and operation of adaptive programs. Learn more about their veteran support programs.Send us Fan MailFollow the podcast on Instagram: @TheAdaptiveAthletePod