Disabled power-lifter sets Commonwealth target

A LOCAL disabled man has set his sights on the Commonwealth team, when he competes in a bench press competition this summer.

Suffering from spastic paraplegia, which affects his mobility, Nigel McDowell has overcome many challenges in his life but has never let his condition hold him back.

Now Nigel has set himself a new goal, competing in the Northern Ireland Bench Press Championship in August.

Nigel decided a number of years ago to start going to the gym just to improve his general fitness, here he met Matt Watterson a fitness instructor who helped him get into the training in a big way.

He now trains three times a week in the Braid Leisure Centre with Matt and has decided that he wants to add a competitive edge to his training.

Matt and Nigel met with Luke Poots who has arranged for Nigel to compete in the Northern Ireland Power Lifting event this August.

If he progresses he might also have the chance of competing in commonwealth competition in South Africa.

Nigel told the Times: “I would like to show other people out there, who may be a bit overwhelmed with the idea of the gym, that they should have nothing to fear. I hope to inspire other people into challenging themselves further and maybe boosting their confidence.”

Matt told the Times that Nigel is a genuine source of inspiration for him, he said: “Nigel is very determined with everything he does. It puts it into perspective he really is an inspiration for me. He doesn’t let his condition hold him back. His confidence has improved over the years and he is incredibly determined.

Matt told the Times that with a goal in sight, Nigel is going to have to increase his training, he added: “We are going to have to step up the training and increase Nigel’s strength. We have given ourselves plenty of time before the competition in August to get where we want to be. “There’s a real opportunity to compete as there aren’t a lot of people and I think with Nigel’s determination he could do quite well. If he can get up to a good standard, who knows where this could lead?”

Chairman and power secretary, Luke Poots said that if Nigel applies himself then he has the chance of competing in Commonwealth Competition in November, he said: “It is a tough competition and you need to be dedicated but Nigel appears to be very capable as he seems very determined.”

When speaking to Nigel, he makes it clear that Matt has been an inspiration of his own, he said: “Matt helped me take the training to the next level, he has guided me from the start.

“Matt asked me if I needed help and since then we have become good friends. I had only joined the gym to lose a bit of weight but after his help, my obsession with the gym started.

“I didn’t really have any intention of using too many weights, but then I moved away from cardio and now all I really do is lift weights.

“It has become a mini-obsession, however I never dreamed it would take me this far.”

Now with a competition and the chance of a Commonwealth place, Nigel knows the serious training will have to begin.

“We’re under no illusion that when we find out what is required (for the competition). We are going to have to increase our training and focus on what we need to do,” he added.

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