Derrick Hill is the first South African man to qualify for the Masters Division at the CrossFit Games.
If Derrick Hill was the kind of man who defined himself by his weaknesses, not by his strengths, he might be “sitting on a porch, reading a book and staring into the distance,” right now. After all, that’s what you’d expect from someone in their 60s whose spine has started to deteriorate. But he didn’t. He swapped that book for a kettlebell and did all the jumping, jogging and heavy lifting doctors said someone with a “bad back” couldn’t do. Against all traditional logic, Hill joined CrossFit.
First South African Man Through to the Senior Masters Division of the CrossFit Games
Believing he would rather have lived life to its full term than give in half way, Hill didn’t just do CrossFit. He did it spectacularly by coming 5th and qualifying for the Games in 2011, despite being new to the sport. Hill was unfortunately unable to make it to the 2011 Games due to a lack of funds. “The setback only motivated me to work harder, and I spent the past 14 months perfecting the skills needed to compete.”
Then, with the 2012 Open about to start and the dream, that was 14 months in the making, finally within reach, a knee injury brought his training to a halt. “I got an injury under the kneecap which started to bleed and became infected,” he says.
Opting against surgery, Hill spent eight days in hospital. “Cardio went for a ball, I lost four kilograms and stopped training all together.”
Despite the obstacle, when the 2012 Open arrived at B4C Fitness Centre, Hill was ready and more determined than ever. It was tough going, as expected, but at the close of the Open, he was 12th on the world Leaderboard. He has qualified for a place at the 2012 CrossFit Games, and this time he’s ready to pack his bags for the states.
It’s Never Too Late Too Start
“I’ve been active, competitive and driven with a love for doing things with other people all my life,” Hill says.
However, he stresses that you don’t need to be fit, healthy or young to reap the benefits of CrossFit. “For years I’ve had a degenerating spine compounded by serious accidents, with multiple fractures to the chest and shoulders,” he explains. “CrossFit was the perfect way to strengthen the muscles around the vertebrae, enabling me to do the things I do today.”
Hill’s wife of 40 years, Carol, was previously not a very sport driven or active person. She joined him at CrossFit 14 months ago. “I have a problem, I can’t hold her back,” he says. “This shows that you can start late in life, and still see results. This is the beauty of CrossFit!”
Ask Carol and she’ll tell you she feels better at 59 than she did at 35.
Family Matters
Hill says Carol is more than a fellow CrossFitter, but his biggest supporter. “She has seen to all my medical and nutritional needs,” he says. “My sons Chris, Russell and Graham have helped me get to where I am today, both on the physical and psychological side.”
In fact, it was Graham who introduced his dad to CrossFit. The fact that he could compete with his own age group at an extreme level was especially appealing.
He also draws inspiration from the friendship and camaraderie of his CrossFit family. In particular, his good friends, Danie and Charmain du Preez of B4C Fitness, and their sons Janus and Charnu. “Their support and guidance has been unwavering,” Hill says.
At the deepest level however, he believes his strength comes from within, from a belief in the impossible and in his dream of the future.
The Mind is the Strongest Healer
Hill’s goals for the coming year are both about improving the quality of his life and the quantity of reps and weights on the scoreboard. “My greatest challenge will be to stop these bones deteriorating as the result of the aging process,” he says.
It’s a challenge he’s bound to cope with. After all, he’s already proved your body will follow where the mind leads.
It’s this mind-over-matter approach that’s seen Hill become the first South African man to qualify for the 60-plus Masters Division at the Games. His story shows that not only are you never too old to start CrossFit, you are never too old to be young.
