In Bordeaux, a British powerlifter with Down Syndrome is a walking, pressing, squatting inspiration to all who watch him compete, and he’s just bagged the 5th gold medal of his career.
At just 127 pounds (57 kg) Dan MacGauley took first place in the European Bench Press Championship, posting 154 lbs. (70 kg) classic, and 198 lbs. (90 kg) equipped—meaning with a weight belt and gloves—which was a new personal best.
The 33-year-old who was told he’d “never achieve anything,” was already a world champion, four-times Commonwealth champion, and British champion before 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 surgery when he was a toddler. He’s overcome as many obstacles as one could imagine to take home the double gold for classic and equipped.
“Loads of people have said to us that they go to work and come home after a long day and it’s an effort to go to the gym,” said his mother Judith, who’s also a powerlifter. “But that they see Dan there, smiling and laughing despite all his problems, and it gives them the motivation they need.”
Dan was temporarily wheelchair-bound and first got into powerlifting more than ten years ago when he visited the gym to lose weight. He won his first gold medal at an international competition during the Powerlifting Commonwealth Championship back in 2015 in Vancouver.
McGauley’s personal best (equipped) is 733 lbs (332 kg) with 256 in the deadlift, 286 in the squat, and 198 in the bench.
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“When he’s powerlifting he likes carrying out the same routine over and over again—it comes naturally to him,” said Judith. “When he’s underneath the bar, that bar doesn’t know him from anyone else. There is no distinction made because he’s got problems.”
“He is just a brilliant person. He loves the sport and everyone around him support him doing it.”
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