Charl Liversage: Down But Not Out

March 31, 2013

Kirsty Roebuck

"Charl is a natural motivator and is passionate about CrossFit. He inspires people."

 

Photos by: Ben Schempers

After just a year of doing CrossFit, Charl Liversage achieved a podium finish in one of South Africa’s most popular local events. The event was six weeks out from the start of the 2013 Reebok CrossFit Games Open, and it revealed an exciting new contender.

Three weeks later, Liversage broke his fibula and tore ankle ligaments in an obstacle race. The injury required surgery and extensive physiotherapy. 

“I was very disappointed,” he says. “However, I am motivated enough to realize other events will still be coming. I was looking forward to competing in the Open because I suspected I would stand a good chance of finishing at the top.”

Liversage was an accomplished sportsman in his school days. He competed in South African athletics in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints, long jump and triple jump during primary school. He also played rugby at primary, secondary and club levels.

He now trains at CrossFit Polokwane under David van Ryneveld.

“I can confidently say that David Levey would be looking over his shoulder if Charl had not got injured,” van Ryneveld says of Liversage.

van Ryneveld says Liversage’s ankle injury does not only eliminate ankle use, but also affects his knee and hip function.

“With this in mind, and an average rehab period of at least six months to restore previous body function, we obviously have no expectation for the Open,” the owner and head coach of Polokwane says.

Despite this setback, Liversage is competing in the Open with his sole aim being to motivate others. And the members of CrossFit Polokwane are supportive of their injured contender.

“They are 100 percent behind me,” Liversage says. “I’ve got the best supporting box. Hopefully, by competing as such, it will help others to be motivated enough to follow my example.”

van Ryneveld adds: “Charl is a natural motivator and is passionate about CrossFit. He inspires people about this sport. He has encouraged a lot of our athletes to compete, irrespective of conditioning levels, and is always involved with motivating and encouraging during workouts. Charl is competing for the sake of CrossFit spirit.”

In the three weeks of the Open so far, Liversage completed 126 reps on 13.1, 30 reps on 13.2 and 148 reps on 13.3. He hopes to be back in 2014 healthy and ready to take on the Africa Region.