"My goals were clear: to go to college, work my ass off and build something I did not have when I was growing up."
Many people deal with feelings of loneliness and depression, and finding an outlet to help overcome those mental states can be difficult. For Jeff Evans, second-place finisher at the South East Regional, it was the weight room where he first found a place to belong.
Evans, 25, was the sixth oldest out of 17 children--a mix of full-, half-, and step-siblings who were all related to either Evan’s dad or step-dad.
“I did not really get the attention I felt was needed, and though I was considered a popular kid in high school, I was actually pretty quiet and depressed,” he said.
Evans recalled the darkest moments of his teenage years after his girlfriend broke up with him, and he felt completely alone.
“As a 13-year-old, I attempted to kill myself. I sat in my bathroom crying because I was super-depressed and did not like my situation at the time,” he wrote via Facebook shortly after the South East Regional.
His step-dad happened to walk in and stopped him.
During his freshman year in high school family issues drove him into the gym.
Eventually, he became a member of the varsity track and field team, and despite being 205 lb. at the time, he managed to keep up and even beat the lighter guys. Evans then decided to join the varsity football team his senior year as a receiver.
“At the time, I went into the gym and did bench on Monday and Thursday, then legs on Tuesday and Friday, and abs on Wednesday,” he admitted. “I did not really know what I was working on.”
In spite of his workout plan and relative inexperience, Evans received a full scholarship to Southern Illinois where he was a member of the varsity football team and earned a degree in kinesiology.
“My goals were clear: to go to college, work my ass off and build something I did not have when I was growing up,” Evans said. “Basically, I wanted to escape poverty and learn from my parents’ mistakes.”
Evans’ passion for working out led him to competing in physique competitions until a friend encouraged him to spend $20 to participate in the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games Open.
“At the time, I was preparing for a physique competition, but after the Open, that seemed too boring,” he said.
Evans went on to finish 117th in the South East after only five weeks of CrossFit training. Later that year, he competed in some local competitions and managed to take spots on the podium each time.
Evans was hooked and switched his focus to CrossFit. In 2013, he finished in 22nd place in the Open, earning a spot to the South East Regional where he took eighth place.
“Just before regionals in 2013, I signed on with CJ Martin,” he said, “and not only did he help me with gymnastics and endurance, but he also got me stronger.”
Evans said he was influenced by the work Martin did with Games athletes Josh Bridges and Camille LeBlanc-Bazinet.
For Evans, claiming a podium spot at the 2014 South East Regional was something he knew was possible, but he did not take it for granted.
“I originally felt it was a little light, but I crushed the run-throughs the week before and realized if I stick to the plan, I could have success,” he said.
The success at regionals brought him back to that moment when he was 13 and considering suicide. Evans realized he would have missed out on so much if he had followed through with it.
“After regionals, I felt it was the perfect time to tell people (about the suicide attempt),” he said. “I wanted so badly to be successful in life and that moment (at regionals) felt so good.”
Now, thanks to CrossFit, Evans rarely feels alone thanks in part to the gym he recently opened, IronStable Fitness. He refers to many of his clients as aunt, uncle and friend. Through his training and coaching, he said he has created the tight-knit family he wished he had growing up.
“In competition you are out there alone but not really. You can always come back to your clients, and see how much you are helping them,” he said.
Despite it being his first time at the CrossFit Games, Evans has set his goal for a top-10 finish.
“Nobody wants second place. We would not compete in an individual sport if we were not going for first place,” Evans said. “I feel I might be the strongest person at the Games this year, but it is my first time, so I want to win, but gaining experience is key to being successful.”
