Alumni Update: Kevin Ogar

On January 12, 2014, Kevin Ogar sustained a spinal cord injury and was paralyzed from the waist down after a weight-lifting accident. Prior to his accident, he was a beloved CrossFit coach and trainer and a weight-lifting athlete. Kevin remained determined throughout his rehabilitation at Craig Hospital to get back into the gym and quickly return to the sport he loved. As he continued his rehabilitation with the support of the team at Craig, Kevin tried out for the U.S. Paralympic Powerlifting team in 2016, and in December 2017, he competed in Worlds, the first ever international Paralympic powerlifting competition.

Since his accident, Kevin has also focused his energy toward giving back to the community. On November 11, 2015, he founded CrossFit Watchtower in Englewood, Colorado. And on that very same day, Kevin also founded the Reveille Project, a nonprofit that provides access to tools that aid in veterans’ ability to integrate socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually back into civilian life. He also volunteers his time at The Phoenix, a nonprofit that helps people struggling with addiction find a clear path to recovery through fitness, and Barbells for Boobs, a nonprofit that allows men and women to get breast cancer screenings.

“I try and do as much as I can,” Kevin says. “I wouldn’t be where I am without the team at Craig. The facility, the people and the overall support have really helped focus my future in adaptive sports. I’ve been an active volunteer in Craig’s Therapeutic Recreation Department and will continue to give back as much as possible.”

Most recently, Kevin traveled to Europe for CrossFit seminars across London, Amsterdam and Spain. His goal is to spread his passion and knowledge for adaptive sports training to as many people as possible.