12/05/2025
Part 3 (Final) - The Comeback That Matters
There were plenty of low points. Moments where the smallest wins had to be celebrated — managing a short walk, getting through a session, not launching my heart rate monitor across the room in frustration. But I kept showing up. Slowly, steadily, with no glory — just grit.
And I didn’t do it alone. My freind — who I affectionately call my coach (he’s not, but don’t tell him that) — was a massive support. He trained with me, encouraged me when I wanted to pack it in, and kept the laughs coming, even when I wasn’t really in the mood to laugh. And my girlfriend, .evmorfopoulos, has been an absolute rock. Patient, calm, always in my corner. I genuinely couldn’t have done this without her.
Even now, I’m still undergoing tests. I still don’t have a concrete answer as to what went wrong. But I’ve learned to work with what I’ve got. I’ve learned that progress doesn’t always look like it used to — and that’s okay. Some days, just showing up is the win.
Crossing that Hyrox finish line wasn’t about beating a time. It wasn’t about proving something to anyone else. It was about every unseen moment: the setbacks, the mental battles, the doubts. It was a quiet promise to myself — that no matter how long the comeback takes, it’s always worth it.
No excuses. Just progress — one shaky step, one deep breath, and one awkwardly stubborn trainer refusing to quit.
Let’s do this.
06/05/2025
Part 2 – The Struggle I Couldn’t Explain
On top of that, I’ve got Thalassaemia and microcytic anaemia — so I’m no stranger to fatigue, low oxygen levels, and managing energy carefully. But this felt different. It felt like my body was waving the white flag — and my brain didn’t know how to handle it.
Doctors were brilliant, but even they struggled to pinpoint exactly what was going on. Test after test, scan after scan… and still no real answers. It was physically hard, of course — but mentally, it was something else. When you start questioning whether you can trust your own body, it messes with your head. I didn’t know if I’d ever get back to doing the things I love — or even feel like myself again.
It shook me. Not just because I couldn’t train the way I used to, but because I’ve always prided myself on setting an example. I never want to let my clients down. They come to me during their own struggles — and it’s important they know that setbacks don’t mean giving up. They just mean adapting, learning, and being a bit stubborn in the face of adversity. I want them to know: no matter what life throws at us, we can keep going.
My business motto is “No excuses,” so I had to live by that — even when the excuse seemed valid enough to be framed and hung on the wall.
30/04/2025
My Journey to Hyrox: A Personal Battle Won
Part 1 – The Setbacks No One Sees
Back in 2019, I had major heart surgery to remove a large lump from my heart. It was one of those life-pausing moments — everything suddenly becomes about scans, surgery, and trying to make sense of what’s going on. The operation was no small thing either — they had to detach my pec, and at the time I genuinely didn’t know if I’d get full use of my shoulder back. As someone whose job relies on being able to move and demonstrate exercises without wincing, that was a bit of a concern.
The road to recovery was long — physically draining, emotionally tougher. But slowly, I started to rebuild. I went on to complete the Fan Dance (an event based on the SAS selection course) and the Para 10 (a paratrooper endurance challenge), raising money for TVAP along the way — a brilliant charity. I honestly thought I’d cleared the biggest hurdle. I’d put the work in, come out the other side, and thought, “Right, that’s the hard bit done.”
Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
Last year, I was set to compete in Hyrox Madrid. Training was on track, mindset was solid… then, out of nowhere, my heart rate started spiking during basic activity. Not burpees or sprints — we’re talking walking up the stairs. I was getting breathless doing things that used to be a warm-up. As a personal trainer, that’s a deeply uncomfortable place to be. Your body becomes unpredictable — and your confidence takes a massive knock.
Part 2 - incoming .... 👀
30/04/2025
My Journey to Hyrox: A Personal Battle Won
Part 1 – The Setback I Didn’t See Coming
In 2019, I had major heart surgery to remove a large lump. Sounds dramatic — and it was. They had to detach my pec in the process, and for a while, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever have full use of my shoulder again. For someone who makes a living coaching movement and strength, that was more than just inconvenient — it was a mental and emotional gut punch.
But I worked my way back. Through patience, grit, and a lot of physio, I slowly rebuilt. I even went on to complete the Fan Dance (a beast of an SAS-inspired challenge) and the Para 10 (paratrooper endurance event). I raised money for TVAP, a brilliant chariry, and came out of that period thinking, “Right — that must’ve been my big life hurdle. Onwards!”
Turns out, life had a bit more in store.
Keep an eye out for Part 2 👀
