A CrossFit coach might never walk again after he severed his spine during a competition in California on Sunday.聽
was competing at the , a CrossFit-style event, when he attempted a snatch鈥攁 lift in which a barbell is raised from the floor directly to an overhead position in a single motion鈥攂ut dropped the weight on his back. According to his friends,聽, severed his spinal cord,聽and is聽currently paralyzed from the waist down.
Because Ogar is uninsured, the CrossFit community has rallied together to help pay for the medical bills. In fewer than 48 hours, people from around the world donated more than $100,000, CrossFit Unbroken owner . 聽
鈥淚t was just kind of a freak accident,鈥 who competed with Ogar last weekend. 聽
CrossFit鈥檚 high-intensity workouts have exploded in popularity, and there are now about 10,000 CrossFit gyms worldwide. Though CrossFit injury numbers vary, studies have pegged the CrossFit injury rate聽from as low as 16 percent to as high as 74 percent.聽
Update: The original article stated that Ogar was injured at a CrossFit event. The OC Throwdown is not affiliated with or sanctioned by CrossFit Inc.
As of 8 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, January 15, more than $168,000 has been raised for Ogar’s recovery. To donate, .