Sport has a way of breaking down barriers and showing us what people are truly capable of.
That’s exactly what WODAPTIVE is about. This month, we’re proud to be supporting one of their competitions, and we wanted to take a moment to shine a light on who they are, what they do, and why their work matters. If you haven't yet heard of them, this is for you!
REDFINING STRENGTH THROUGH COMPETITION:
WHO ARE WODAPTIVE?
WODAPTIVE was founded back in 2023 by a team of passionate athletes and coaches, all with the shared goal of making functional fitness more accessible and inclusive. As it should be!
Among those co-founders is Nigel Barber (Nige if you're friends), whose own journey into adaptive sport helped shape the organisation’s mission. Together, they set out to create competitions and community initiatives where para-athletes and able-bodied athletes train and compete side by side.
Their guiding principle is simple but pretty damn powerful: “Paired in Purpose. United in Strength.” Every event highlights not just physical ability, but connection, teamwork, and the belief that fitness should be open to everyone. What began with a small event in St Albans has already grown into something way bigger, with WODAPTIVE now recognised as a leading force for adaptive functional fitness in the UK.
ADAPTIVE SPORTS AS A LANDSCAPE
Adaptive sport definitely isn’t new, but it’s only in recent years that it’s started to gain some of the recognition it deserves. From the Paralympics to grassroots community projects, adaptive athletes are showing that disability isn't a barrier to performance, but rather a different way of approaching it.
The world of functional fitness has been slower to catch up, which is exactly why organisations like WODAPTIVE are so important.
What makes adaptive sport so unique is its variety. Athletes come with different abilities, conditions, and challenges. From those using prosthetics, to athletes with spinal cord injuries, to people living with visual impairments or neurological conditions. No two athletes adapt in exactly the same way, and that’s part of what makes these competitions so inspiring to watch. It’s not about comparison, but about seeing each individual push their own limits.
The UK has a growing adaptive community, but opportunities are still fairly limited compared to mainstream sport. Events like those run by WODAPTIVE are helping to change that by not only providing a platform to compete, but also by building awareness and shifting perceptions.
For many spectators, it’s their first real glimpse into what adaptive functional fitness looks like and it’s hard not to come away impressed by the resilience and creativity these athletes bring to every workout.
WHERE DOES TAPE PLAY A PART?
When you think about tape in sport, you probably picture strapping ankles, supporting wrists, or protecting a thumb in the gym. But in adaptive competition, tape often plays an even bigger role. With such a wide range of athletes and adaptations, it’s used in all sorts of creative ways to keep people moving safely and comfortably.
For some athletes, tape provides the extra grip needed to handle a barbell or pull-up rig. For others, it helps secure prosthetics, protect skin from friction, or stabilise joints that might otherwise take too much strain. Because no two adaptive athletes have the same needs, the way tape is applied can look completely different from one person to the next.
It might be a simple tool, but tape is often one of the small details that allows athletes to focus less on discomfort and more on performance. In that way, it becomes part of the bigger picture: making sure every competitor can show up, give their best, and compete on as level a playing field as possible.
Let's look at an athlete who knows exactly how to use tape for competition.
HOW DOES HENRY DUNN USE TAPE FOR ADAPTIVE COMPETITIONS?
Like we said, there's no one way to tape for adaptive athletes.
Take adaptive CrossFit athlete Henry Dunn (@_henrydunn_), for instance. After his amputation, he leaned on tape for a very practical reason: to protect the skin around his residual limb. As Henry puts it, he uses a wide, Tear EAB tape to cover the skin to “stop it rubbing against bars and weights, stop it ripping the skin and just to help with the pressure of lifting such heavy weights.” Often, he layers it with a sweatband for just that bit of extra padded protection.
It's that combination of protection and practicality isn’t just for Henry. Across adaptive sport, tape is one of those simple, yet essential tools. It helps secure equipment, reduce pain, stabilise skin, and create the comfort that lets athletes give their all without distraction.
WHAT'S COMING UP & WHY IT MATTERS
This month, WODAPTIVE is returning with their next Mixed Pairs comp, hosted at Cattledog CrossFit. Like we mentioned, these events bring para-athletes and able-bodied partners together for three hard-hitting workouts.
We’ll be on the ground, supplying tape and capturing the energy of athletes pushing themselves and each other beyond limits. Bringing our support isn’t just about logistics, it’s about showing up and helping fuel a movement that values every athlete’s journey.
If you want to learn more about WODAPTIVE's next competition or have a question about how you can apply tape, either as an athlete competing at one of their events, or just in general, get in touch. We're happy to help!
