The Adaptive Athlete Podcast
The Adaptive Athlete Podcast is dedicated to sharing the stories of athletes in the Crossfit space and beyond who have pushed past the limits doctors or others gave them.
In these conversations, you'll hear stories of resiliency, adaptation, grit, and determination. You'll also hear about the ways the adaptive space is growing.
Whether you are an adaptive athlete, a coach, or you know someone who would benefit from adaptive athletics and adaptive fitness, this podcast is the place to hear stories and build connections.
New episodes drop every Tuesday.
The Adaptive Athlete Podcast
Why Winning Wasn't the Point (Feat. Luke Reeson)
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Mat Hotho sits down with Luke Reeson, a former British Army sniper who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he was shot three times across two deployments—including twice in the legs during his final tour. What followed was a journey from a wheelchair through para swimming with the GB National Team to becoming the 2025 CrossFit Games champion in the Lower Below Knee division.
Luke shares how military charities and sport gave him purpose during recovery, how competing at the Invictus Games led him to para swimming at an international level, and why he eventually traded the pool for the barbell.
He talks about that wild moment at the 2022 CrossFit Games when his swim workout placed him ahead of Jason Hopper and other able-bodied competitors—and what it meant to finally prove himself on their turf.
Luke also opens up about the invisible daily challenges of training with nerve damage and titanium-reinforced bones, what it's like coaching from a body that doesn't always cooperate, and why coming first at the Games wasn't really the point.
Follow Luke on Instagram: @luke2522
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @TheAdaptiveAthletePod
