[CFMS SERIES] Dave Durante on Life After the Olympics (EP. 053)

This marks the seventh episode of a special CrossFit Podcast collaboration with the CrossFit Medical Society.

Olympian and Power Monkey Fitness co-founder Dave Durante joins the CrossFit Podcast to talk about the transition from elite competition to lifelong fitness. After representing the U.S. in gymnastics at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Dave discovered CrossFit, and it changed his life.

He shares how CrossFit helped him stay healthy and strong beyond his competitive years, the story behind Power Monkey Camp, and why gymnastics remains one of the best foundations for athleticism at any age.

TOPICS INCLUDED
Life after elite sport: finding purpose and health beyond competition
How CrossFit reignited Dave’s passion for training
The creation and evolution of Power Monkey Camp
Building bridges between gymnastics and CrossFit
The importance of play, curiosity, and community in adult fitness
Why gymnastics is the ultimate foundation for all sports

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Power Monkey Fitness
Power Monkey Camp
CrossFit Gymnastics Courses
“Weight of Gold” (HBO Documentary)

Community Highlight
After two decades studying cancer genetics, Dr. Jennifer Beebe-Dimmer wanted to give patients something they could act on today. That’s how the CAPABLE program was born, a free, 12-week, CrossFit-based intervention for cancer survivors.

Coached by Level 1 trainers, participants train three times a week and complete pre- and post-testing for strength, conditioning, and biomarkers. Since 2019, more than 275 people have gone through the program, most of whom had never done anything like it before.

The results speak for themselves: significant improvements in quality of life, body composition, sleep, and A1C, with cognitive function up next.
Beebe-Dimmer calls CrossFit the “secret sauce,” not just for the workouts, but for the coaching and community that keep people coming back.

“When I look back at my career, this will be the most meaningful thing I’ve done.”

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