Sergio Rivera - Athlete of the Month

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH - Sergio Rivera🏆

Since walking into CrossFit Bound in 2013 looking for a bigger challenge, this athlete has never stopped raising the bar.

Over the past year, the transformation has been massive — dropping from 215 lbs to 185 lbs, reaching 10% body fat, and dramatically improving endurance and stamina. But the biggest change? Mindset.

Training has built discipline that carries far beyond the gym — into long workdays, stronger relationships, and a relentless “finish the job” mentality. Inspired by the challenge of endurance, they took on running head-on, completing a sub-1:56 half marathon after once needing 3 hours, proving that consistency changes everything.

A powerful belief now guides their journey:

Would you live for your family? Would you train, eat well, and take care of yourself so they don’t have to take care of you later?

To anyone on the fence about starting — you don’t get ready to walk through the doors. You walk through the doors to get ready.

Goals ahead: 1,000 miles run this year, a sub-4 hour marathon, and stringing together muscle-ups.

We’re proud to have you as part of the CrossFit Bound community. This is what commitment looks like. 💪🔥

1. What first brought you into CrossFit Bound?

I came to Crossfit Bound in 2013 looking for a bigger challenge, I already hand a few years of CrossFit under my belt but I was starting to plateau. I’d been told how good the programming was and about the training environment so I took my first class and it exceeded all my expectations.

2. Over the past year, you’ve made huge changes in your life. What do you feel has been the biggest transformation for you? (Physically, mentally, or lifestyle-wise)

Over the past year I would say my biggest transformations had been my physical appearance, mindset has been a huge transformation as well. Last year I was walking around at 215lbs and I ended 2025 weighing 185lbs with 10% body fat and a significant increase in endurance and stamina. 

3. Discipline has clearly become a big part of your journey. How has training helped you build discipline outside the gym? (Work, family, habits, mindset, etc.)

The discipline that training has instilled in my everyday life has carried over into everything I do. The 10-14hr long days of washing houses no longer feel so draining, all the meticulous details no longer feel so bothersome, and when I start a job I don’t stop when it hits 5pm I continue until it’s completed. My relationships with family and friends have strengthened because of the habits I’ve built and people have started to be inspired by the journey I’m on. I heard somewhere that the better version of yourself that you can become, the better you can be for your family and friends. 

4. You started running this year—something many people avoid. What motivated you to start, and how has it changed your fitness or mindset?

At the beginning of last year I was going through a big lifestyle change and felt a sense of identity confusion. I read 2 books which helped me put things into a better perspective and pushed me to take control of my situation. “Can’t Hurt Me” by David Goggins and “Endure” by Cameron Hanes. These 2 world class ultra runners talked a lot about the challenge and discipline it takes to run long distances, and how it helped shape their mindset to find better purpose in their lives. The therapeutic sense I received during my first 14miler was unmatched and I was instantly hooked, i also figured it would help me be better at CrossFit if i could cut enough weight and gain more endurance.

5. What PR or fitness accomplishment are you most proud of, and why? (This could be a lift, a run, consistency, or something unexpected)

I would say I’m most proud of completing a sub 1hr 56min half marathon, at the beginning of the year It took me 3hrs. Granted it was around Kennesaw mtn and 2,000ft of elevation but it took a lot of grinding to achieve.

6. How has your training at CrossFit Bound carried over into your personal business or professional life? (Confidence, structure, work ethic, problem-solving, etc.)

Training at CrossFit Bound has given me so much confidence to go out and tackle the real world in so many different ways. Tasks that seem labor intensive to mosts seem like a breeze, I feel more confident when speaking to clients and meeting new people, I find myself being more relaxed when it comes to finding solutions in times of need, and it’s also helped me be more efficient when strategizing for a big job or challenge.

7. What does a “good training day” look like for you now compared to when you first started?

A good Training Day (Tuesdays) for me consists of a carb loaded breakfast as fuel, plenty of water and electrolytes, hitting a cf class, a good foam roller and stretch session after the workout, more carbs, more electrolytes, and then a 5mile track workout focused on speed. A good training day used to be a poorly fueled cf workout usually ending with a headache and trying to recover for 45min after the workout. 

8. What’s one habit or mindset shift you’ve developed this year that you plan to keep for life?

I saw this thing that said A lot of people say they would die for their family, but the question is would you live for them? Would you workout for them? Would you eat clean for them? Would you take care of yourself so they don’t have to take care of you later in life? And that really stuck with me

9. What would you tell someone who’s on the fence about starting CrossFit or committing to their fitness? (Especially someone who feels “too busy” or out of shape)

If you feel like you have to workout or be ready to come to CrossFit then you will never walk through those doors, if you want to change bad enough you will make the time and you will stick to it! Walking through those doors is half the battle.

10. What are your goals moving forward—inside and outside the gym? (Fitness, running, business, personal growth)

This year my goals are to run 1000miles, complete a sub 4hr  marathon and string together muscle ups!