About Overdrive Athletic Club in Richmond, BC

I started as a personal trainer in 2017 while completing my undergraduate degree, and have worked in a variety of positions within health and fitness ever since. My goal was to help promote strength training to women, especially younger female athletes, and shift the mindset of exercise away from just appearance and more towards their strength, health, and mental wellbeing. I spent a couple years as a strength and conditioning coach working with varsity athletes, as well as a rehab assistant, before graduating and starting at Overdrive as a kinesiologist in 2021. Having never done CrossFit before, I naturally started to incorporate CrossFit workouts into my own training and really enjoyed the physical and mental challenges it brings. My favourite part of coaching is watching members build their strength and seeing them build their confidence, and coaching my beloved Monday morning crew!

Since the beginning I always loved sports, so I started playing soccer as a good Brazilian boy and when I was 9, I met skateboard. It was almost 9 years journey living into the beautiful sport. It's a huge sense of community and friendship, also, teachs you to be resilient to achieve your goals, respecting the process. With the skateboard I became a champion in my state in 2014. From there until 2016 I did some bodybuilding stuffs and then I met the crossfit. No plans so far, crossfit just showed in my life and since then has been my main activity. I believe that all the lessons that I learned at skateboard helped me to be better in the crossfit. So, go hard, be resilient, respect the steps, all so important for the crossfit world. Talking about be a coach, I always loved to teach stuffs, been into an excited environment, music louder. Move to Canada definitely! Show to people that they are capable to do anything they want.

I grew up in Ukraine, where I started Olympic weightlifting at a young age and competed for over 10 years, earning the title of Master of Sport and representing at more than 20 national competitions. Later, I transitioned into CrossFit, where I became a Sanctionals-level athlete and competed internationally in China and Europe, winning and placing at several major events. Along this journey, I discovered my passion for coaching, helping athletes of all levels from kids in Olympic weightlifting to adults in CrossFit, functional training, and endurance sports. Moving to Canada, I've continued to evolve as both an athlete and coach, expanding into triathlon and running. My highlights include international podium finishes in CrossFit, achieving top national results in Olympic lifting, and guiding athletes toward their own goals while building a strong fitness community. My turning point was moving abroad to coach and compete. Leaving my home country and starting fresh in China was not easy. I had to face doubt and uncertainty. By pushing through, I grew stronger as both an athlete and coach, competing internationally and leading athletes of all levels. This taught me that real growth comes when you step outside your comfort zone. I coach to help people discover their true strength, both body and mind. I'm passionate about guiding anyone from beginners to competitors to overcome doubts and achieve goals they never thought possible. My biggest motivation is seeing athletes hit milestones and build confidence that changes their lives.

As a CrossFit coach, my purpose is deeply rooted in the lessons I've learned throughout my life's journey. Having been a university-level athlete and competing in multiple CrossFit competitions, I've experienced firsthand the dedication, discipline, and perseverance required to excel in both sport and life. These experiences have shaped me into the coach I am today focused on helping others unlock their potential and overcome their own challenges. The turning point in my journey came when my dad suffered a heart attack. Thankfully, he survived, but that moment brought everything into sharp focus. CrossFit had always been a way for me to stay fit and challenge myself, but now it became something more, a shield against a much bigger enemy: the battle for long-term health and wellness. Watching my dad face such a serious health scare made me realize that staying fit wasn't just about physical strength or performance in the gym; it was about building a foundation for a healthy life, for myself and those I love. I understood that in order to be the best version of myself and to be present for my partner and future family, I needed to commit fully to a lifestyle of health and wellness. CrossFit became my weapon, not just to stay in shape, but to ensure I'd live a long, healthy life, avoiding the same health risks my dad had faced. This experience lit a fire within me, turning fitness into a lifelong commitment and fueling my purpose as a coach to help others take control of their health and realize what's truly at stake. As a CrossFit coach, my purpose is to empower individuals to discover their true potential through movement and fitness. With a background in Microbiology and a passion for teaching, I believe that fitness is more than just physical strength. It's about building confidence, resilience, and mental toughness. I aim to create an environment where everyone, regardless of their starting point, can achieve personal growth, push their boundaries, and develop a lifelong love for health and fitness. My goal is to make every workout a step towards not just physical, but holistic well-being.

With a unique blend of experience in both firefighting and CrossFit, Jacky is dedicated to pushing boundaries and optimizing performance. Starting his CrossFit journey in 2009 at Crossfit Overdrive, Jacky has embraced the discipline with enthusiasm and focus, particularly excelling in handstands and mobility training. After fully diving into CrossFit, Jacky served as a firefighter in Hong Kong from 2017 until the end of 2019. This high-intensity, physically demanding role, coupled with his CrossFit training, has instilled in him a profound understanding of strength, endurance, and resilience. Now based in Vancouver, Jacky has resumed his role as a firefighter, seamlessly integrating his CrossFit expertise and mobility focus into his daily routine. As a CrossFit coach, he is committed to helping others achieve their fitness goals through functional training and personalized programs. When not coaching or on duty, Jacky continually explores new training techniques and expands his knowledge to enhance his coaching practice. He believes in the transformative power of CrossFit and is passionate about helping others unlock their full potential. In September 2022, I faced one of the most challenging moments of my life: a ruptured Achilles tendon. The injury was a severe setback, both physically and mentally, disrupting my active lifestyle and my plans. The road to recovery was daunting, filled with months of rehabilitation, pain, and frustration. However, this period of adversity became a crucial turning point. Instead of allowing the injury to define my limits, I chose to focus on recovery with unwavering determination. I approached my rehabilitation not just as a process of healing but as an opportunity to strengthen other aspects of my fitness and resilience. Every day, I set small, achievable goals that built towards a full recovery. This relentless focus and perseverance paid off. A year and a half after the injury, I achieved a significant milestone by becoming a firefighter in Vancouver. This accomplishment not only marked a personal victory but also reaffirmed my belief in the power of resilience and dedication. My experience with injury and recovery has profoundly shaped my approach as a CrossFit coach. I now emphasize the importance of persistence and adaptability in training, drawing from my own journey to inspire and guide others. This turning point reinforced my conviction that with determination and hard work, we can overcome even the most daunting challenges and achieve our goals. My purpose as a CrossFit coach is to empower individuals to surpass their limits and unlock their true potential through functional fitness. I am driven by the belief that every person has the capacity for remarkable transformation, and my role is to provide the guidance, support, and motivation needed to achieve it. If you are looking for a coach who combines deep personal experience with a passion for transformative fitness, and who is dedicated to supporting you through your unique journey, then I am here to guide you every step of the way.

Growing up I loved competing in sports, specifically hockey, golf and baseball. It was my love for competition that led me to crossfit. I was first introduced to the sport of CrossFit in 2015. Throughout my athletic career, I've had the opportunity to meet and be lead by some amazing coaches and athletes. My mission as a coach is to spark that same inspiration in others in the hopes of them reaching their full potential whether it be in sport or in their lives.