Crossfit, Community and Courage

CROSSFIT

COMMUNITY COURAGE

by EMMA SPOON

Courageous and bold — those are the two best words to describe Market Street team member, Hailey Melakian.

For her day job, Hailey works as a dishwasher for the team at #543 in Lubbock. She’s been with the company since September 2018. Outside of work, she trains to compete.

Hailey is a Special Olympics athlete and award-winning CrossFitter. After competing as a Special Olympian, she had a desire to start Crossfit in 2018 in an effort to become more fit and be a better runner. So, she joined a local CrossFit gym in Lubbock and got to work.

“When I first started, I didn’t really like it,” she said. “But now I’m loving it.”

The new CrossFitter’s journey took off faster than she could have imagined. She began as an intermediate CrossFitter, not being able to squat or jump rope. But after a lot of practice and encouragement from her coach, she now squats 255 pounds and can jump rope with singles and doubleunders. Double-unders are when the rope rotates under her feet twice rather than once per jump.

Over the last couple of years, her hard work has allowed her to compete in the CrossFit Games. During these CrossFit Games, Hailey performed six workouts that included exercises like pull-ups as well as abdominal and shoulder work-outs. Because of her determination, Melakian took home the win in her division at the initial stages of the 2022 CrossFit Games Fittest on Earth.

“When I won the CrossFit Games, I didn’t think I had it,” she said. “And I did, because I got first place.”

Because of her performance in the initial stages of the competition, she received the opportunity to visit Madison, Wisconsin, for the larger competition and award ceremony. Unfortunately, she said she was disappointed she couldn’t compete while there due to a shortage of competitors in her division. She says she is working towards being able to participate again next year.

While she was disappointed that she couldn’t compete in Madison, she said it was amazing just being able to watch fellow athletes and cheer them on.

What Melakian enjoys most about CrossFit is the sense of community it brings her. She said she loves being able to meet new people to help coach and encourage them as they do for her. She said she is thankful for the opportunity to work-out and compete. As those at #543 already know, Hailey is a great cheerleader and supporter for her fellow team members. On top of her work and CrossFit groups, she said her family is also a fantastic support system. Her brother is even going to hang a photo of Hailey in his new business with the caption, “Fittest Like Hailey.”

Join The United Family in congratulating Hailey on all of her success! It’s team members like her that make our United Family awesome!