CLEARWATER, Fla. — The owners of CrossFit Rebels made adjustments to allow their gym to safely reopen as soon as they get approval from the state.
In March, the state ordered all gyms in Florida to shut down to stop the spread of COVID-19.
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Samantha Farina and her husband have owned CrossFit Rebels for 10 years.
"The last couple of weeks have been stressful," said Samantha Farina. "We have people that we're responsible for and their livelihoods. We always tend to be more worried about them than we are about us."
Their facility has been closed for nearly two months.
On Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis said he will make an announcement on the reopening of gyms on Friday. No further details were provided.
Farina said they are ready to reopen. She has made changes to the facility to allow people to workout and practice social distancing.
"All of the stations are set up and taped off in a 10 by 15 foot station where everybody has their own rack, their own barbell, their own box, their own piece of cardio equipment and their own cleaning rags," said Farina.
Firefighter Haylee Johnston said CrossFit gave her the ability to gain strength to become a firefighter.
"I started here to get the strength and ability to do the job I do now and without this, I probably wouldn't be anywhere," said Haylee Johnston.
Other firefighters said gyms give them an outlet to destress.
"A lot of us are trying to scramble and use what we have so working out at home, working out at the station, but it's just not the same intensity," said Faith Fuller, a firefighter.
Tracey Kimball, a communications manager for the Clearwater Police Department, also trains at CrossFit Rebels.
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She battled breast cancer two years ago and she never gave up her ability to train. She said the staff is like family to her.
"They rallied around me as a family. They showed up and were there for my surgery. They were there for my radiation treatment. They never left my side. They encouraged me every day to not give up," said Kimball.
"I workout, I train the first thing in the morning. It sets the tone fore the day and without this, the tone is not set," she added.
Farina said she hopes gyms reopen soon.
"It's not only a physical fitness program, it’s a mental fitness program," said Farina.
For more information on CrossFit Rebels, click here.
