Outside his purpose-built gym in a shed in his Gold Coast backyard, Jordan Cabrita soaks up the sunshine and watches four friends complete a gruelling workout.
They are training as a team ahead of the annual CrossFit Games in the United States next month.
But Cabrita wasn’t just here to watch – he was here to train for glory in the game himself.
In September, Cabrita will be one of the first Australians to compete in the new intellectual category at the Adaptive CrossFit Games in San Antonio, Texas.
The 26-year-old Central Coast resident lives with Down’s syndrome, autism and a stoma and spent much of his childhood in hospital.
Her disability makes it difficult for her to speak, so her mother, Danielle Cabrita, helps her communicate.
“From the time Jordan was born, there was an opinion that he wouldn’t be able to do much, especially in the medical field,” she says.
“They told him he couldn’t jump, he couldn’t ride, he wouldn’t survive.”
At the age of 15, Cabrita nearly died from a severe stoma infection and spent 125 days in hospital receiving intravenous antibiotics.
After enduring surgery to reposition his stoma, he overcame the infection and started CrossFit soon after.
“His whole personality started to change, he started walking lighter and took a lot of pride in his accomplishments,” Cabrita said.
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“It was clear that Jordan had some weightlifting skills. He had really good technique.”
In 2022, Cabrita began competing in CrossFit competitions.
“Jordan lived in a medical setting until he was 15, being in and out of the hospital at least every six weeks,” Cabrita said.
“Now Jordan gets up every day, dresses himself and has a purpose that is not limited to or defined by his disability.”
Dominate the Arena
In CrossFit competitions, athletes compete against each other through a series of workouts made up of one or more different exercises.
Taking part in the CrossFit Games, the sport’s most prestigious competition, is no easy feat, but that’s no different for Cabrita.
He overcame the rigorous training to place 10th in his division and qualify for the Adaptive Games.
His back squat record is 110kg, which is above the average weight for an Australian man.
Eight-time CrossFit Games competitor Kahn Porter trains regularly with Kabrita on the Gold Coast and describes him as a “legend” and says Kabrita’s dedication to the sport has given him a cult following.
“His attitude and enthusiasm dominates the field like no one else,” Porter said.
“He brings such positive energy to everyone around him, so you won’t see him without a smile on his face all game long.”
Porter said training with Cabrita and watching him develop as an athlete reminds him why he started training long before he turned professional.
“Training was a way for me to keep myself healthy,” he says.
“When you do something professionally, things change, but training with Jordan in the gym and spending time with him makes you fall in love with the sport again.”
“Progressive overload”
As with any top athlete in any discipline, monitoring Cabrita’s health in the gym is crucial.
Clinical exercise physiologist Sarah Bradley said Cabrita’s main physical challenge was a reduced ability to absorb and use oxygen efficiently.
“We call it VO2 max, and his VO2 max was very low,” Bradley said.
Because of this, Cabrita also has trouble clearing lactic acid from her muscles during training, she says.
“My biggest role is to safely, gradually and incrementally load him and try to raise the ceiling of his oxygen efficiency.”
Bradley attributes Cabrita’s success in part to his focus on what he can do, rather than what he can’t.
“You can see his athleticism, his incredible mobility and beautiful technique, but his tenacity and tenacity on the field is something else,” she says.
“Jordan not only has Down Syndrome but lives with many disabilities, so it’s amazing that he’s made the top 10, even though he should be able to do things he normally wouldn’t be able to do.”
“He’s so provocative that he brings people out and people see what he’s capable of. It’s inspiring more and more athletes with Down’s syndrome to want to do the same thing.”
“A chance to live your dream”
It is a great source of pride for Kabrita’s mother that she placed in the top 10 and qualified to compete in the Adaptive Games.
“This is an incredible opportunity, a door to show the world that despite his disability, there is something bigger for him,” Cabrita said.
“It gives him a platform to communicate his strengths while challenging his weaknesses.
“I am so proud that my son has had the opportunity to achieve his dreams. It’s what any parent hopes for – for their child to achieve their dreams as a person and as an individual.”
For Kabrita, qualifying for the tournament is a chance to prove his strength and fitness on the field and also an opportunity to represent Australia.
It’s also a stage to show the world what he can do.
“He wants to go out there and show people that he can be that kind of guy. [former world number ones] “Matt Fraser and Tia Toomey,” Cabrita said.
“He’s just like you.”
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