Meet our Trainers:
Dan MacDougald is a Level 3 CrossFit trainer under the old system, Level 2 under the new system, a certified USA Weightlifting Club Coach, certified Positive Coach (by the Positive Coaching Alliance), has certifications from CrossFit in Olympic Lifting, Barbell Training, & Nutrition, and holds the highest coaching certifications offered by USA Rugby. Dan has also been a trainer of trainers at several CrossFit Level 1 certification seminars. Dan is a 60 year old retired lawyer, who has competed in many sports, including cross country, track & field, swimming, wrestling, racquetball, handball, basketball, golf, and rugby. He has been head coach of the Georgia Tech Rugby club since 1993, which accelerated his lifelong interest in effective physical training methods. It was through rugby that he discovered CrossFit in May, 2004. Dan quickly became convinced that CrossFit is the best General Physical Preparation program in existence, and has been turning others on to CrossFit ever since.
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Michael Giardina, a/k/a Mike G., is a Certified Level 2 CrossFit trainer. He also has CrossFit certifications in Olympic Lifting, Gymnastics, & Barbell Training, and is a regular lead trainer at CrossFit Level 1 certification seminars. His workouts are often featured on the main website, www.crossfit.com. He also holds ISSA certification, which he deems worthless compared to the CrossFit certifications. Mike became interested in fitness and training while serving in the US Navy, where he was a Command Fitness Leader. He competed in Triathlons for three years while living in San Diego and Tucson. He was introduced to CrossFit in early 2006 by John Cave, and says, “After being introduced to Crossfit, I never looked back. Crossfit has put me in the overall best shape of my life. It changes lives”
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Frank Faulk is a Level 2 Crossfit trainer, a 53 year old Senior Project Manager with an Atlanta based technology company. Through the years he's been involved in swimming, football, golf, basketball, tennis, track and rugby, among others. He credits a lot of his passion for fitness to his father, who overcame childhood polio by staying in peak physical and mental condition. He attended the US Naval Academy which continued to fuel his interest in a well-rounded, functional fitness capacity. Frank and Dan have been good friends since meeting on the rugby field in 1980. Frank has already seen the positive benefits of CrossFit and has a desire to promote and coach CrossFit fundamentals in and around the Atlanta community. >
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Russ Thornton is a Level 1 CrossFit Trainer, president of Thornton Wealth Management, and one of the original crew of CrossFit Atlanta from back in the days of working out outside of Dan's barn.
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Vasiliy Buharin is a Level 1 CrossFit Trainer, & formerly student coach of the Georgia Tech Gymnastics Club, and he brings a great deal of knowledge to teaching the gymnastic elements of Crossfit. Vasiliy was first turned onto CrossFit after Dan gave him copies of Coach Glassman's classic articles, "Foundations" and "What is Fitness," after which he commented that he was studying Biomechanical Engineering and everything he is learning is right in line with what Coach Glassman says. Classic quote, “Ya, jogging sucks.”
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Charles McFeaters is a Level 1 CrossFit Trainer, a graduate of Georgia Tech, former captain of the GT Rugby Football Club, where he was selected 1st team South Collegiate All Star team. He now plays with Old White Rugby Club and has been selected to the South Men's All Star team Charles has made himself into one of the fittest players in southern rugby with CrossFit, and is renowed & feared for the workouts he designs for the rugby players who train with him at CrossFit Atlanta.
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Max Groves is a Level 1 CrossFit Trainer, a 5th year student at Georgia Tech and a member of the Georgia Tech Rugby Club. Big Max excels in teaching the Olympic lifts which are such an essential part of CrossFit.
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Brent Wenson is a Level 1 Certified CrossFit Trainer. Brent became interested in Olympic weight lifting when he was exposed to it in high school. It was that experience and ongoing interest in Olympic lifting that led him to CrossFit. Brent became a certified CrossFit trainer in September 2007. Brent now works in Information Technology at a Norcross, GA based company in addition to being a CrossFit trainer.
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Mariya Poukalova Marie is a Level 1 Crossfit Certified trainer and a Biomedical Engineering major at Georgia Tech. At a young age Marie was a competitive tennis player until age 13. After spending years being inactive she was introduced to Crossfit by Vasiliy in summer of 07'. She was immediately impressed by Crossfit's intensity, variety, camaraderie, and results. "Crossfit has become a lifestyle, not just a hobby."
Amber Thompson is a level 1 CrossFit trainer and a professional dancer for Zoetic Dance Ensemble, and an instructor at the Atlanta Ballet. Amber was introduced to crossfit by a friend in the dance community. "Crossfit has made me a better dancer and so much more! Other professional dancers are constantly saying, 'You look great! What have you been doing?'" "I've gotten stronger physically and mentally. It is the most empowering workout you will find. CrossFit is good for all ages and body types. I feel better than ever!"
Heidi Dawson is a Level 1 CrossFit Trainer. "I found CrossFit by accident! Wanting more than boot camp could provide, I went to kettle bells and was told about www.crossfit.com. Trying hard to figure out a Sumo Deadlift Highpull on her own, I finally walked to CrossFit Atlanta and drank the kool aid then asked for more! I will never go back to the globo gym, not after I can do pullups and deadlift my body weight. I’m in for life."
Jason Bourgeois is a Level 1 Crossfit Trainer, former captain of the Georgia Tech swimming team, and an Olympic weightlifter. He primarily focuses on teaching the technique of the Olympic weightlifting movements as well as other areas of weightlifting. Just don't ask him to run.
Bethanie Harsh is a Level 1 CrossFit trainer. After playing a variety of sports growing up including competitive cheerleading in high school (she would like you to note that they were national champions 3 years in a row) Bethanie got involved in many different fitness programs that left her bored and dissatisfied. She found CrossFit Atlanta in August 2008 and dove in head first (some might say "elbow first" but that's a whole 'nother story). She is getting her Master's in Religion, Ethics, and Politics from Georgia State University where she teaches Criticial Thinking.
Sam Rickles is a Level 1 CrossFit trainer, and a 3rd year Computational Media major at Georgia Tech. He is a player on the Georgia Tech Rugby Football Club. Sam started CrossFit to train for rugby and found that it made him into a superman, so that his nickname on the rugby team became, "The Atomic Jew." Sam primarily trains other rugby players.
