As the recently deceased world heavyweight boxing legend, American Olympian and social activist once said, “I am an ordinary man who worked hard to develop the talent I was given. I believed in myself, and I believe in the goodness of others.”
~ Muhammad Ali
This statement resonates profoundly to one U.S. Marine who made the decision at a young age to pursue a life of physical fitness not only for the benefit of himself but for others as well.
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Michael Eckert is a Winter Park, Florida, native who began his athletic career as a child competing against his older, nitpicking brother who instinctively challenged him in every possible way.
“When I was growing up I had one older brother, so automatically I had competition against someone,” said Eckert. “We had those natural tendencies as brothers to be better than each other, and I owe a lot of credit to him for why I became so competitive.”