In Bordeaux, a British powerlifter with Down Syndrome is a strolling, urgent, squatting inspiration to all who watch him compete, and he’s simply bagged the fifth gold medal of his profession.
At simply 127 kilos (57 kg) Dan MacGauley took first place within the European Bench Press Championship, posting 154 lbs. (70 kg) basic, and 198 lbs. (90 kg) outfitted—which means with a weight belt and gloves—which was a brand new private greatest.
The 33-year-old who was informed he’d “by no means obtain something,” was already a world champion, four-times Commonwealth champion, and British champion earlier than his European debut earlier this month in Bordeaux.
Dan, who has autism and is deaf in his left ear, underwent two rounds of open-heart surgical procedure when he was a toddler. He’s overcome as many obstacles as one might think about to take residence the double gold for traditional and outfitted.
“A great deal of individuals have mentioned to us that they go to work and are available residence after an extended day and it’s an effort to go to the fitness center,” mentioned his mom Judith, who’s additionally a powerlifter. “However that they see Dan there, smiling and laughing regardless of all his issues, and it offers them the motivation they want.”
Dan was briefly wheelchair-bound and first acquired into powerlifting greater than ten years in the past when he visited the fitness center to drop some weight. He gained his first gold medal at a world competitors throughout the Powerlifting Commonwealth Championship again in 2015 in Vancouver.
McGauley’s private greatest (outfitted) is 733 lbs (332 kg) with 256 within the deadlift, 286 within the squat, and 198 within the bench.
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“When he’s powerlifting he likes finishing up the identical routine time and again—it comes naturally to him,” mentioned Judith. “When he’s beneath the bar, that bar doesn’t know him from anybody else. There is no such thing as a distinction made as a result of he’s acquired issues.”
“He’s only a good individual. He loves the game and everybody round him help him doing it.”
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