Liam McGarry

Started: While at the Spinal Treatment Centre in Salisbury, England, he learned about the 2018 Inter Spinal Unit Games in Stoke Mandeville, England. He competed at the event in tennis, table tennis, pool, swimming, and archery, and after a powerlifter pulled out of the competition, he stepped in and won a gold medal. "My background in rugby meant that I felt comfortable around heavy weights. So I gave it a go and just went for it, and ended up winning! After the competition a coach handed me their card and asked if I'd consider joining a Para powerlifting squad." (wheelpower.org.uk, 23 Jun 2021) Reason: "I started attending development camps and discovered this was a sport that fuelled me. It's a challenge, and I'm good at it. Being competitive runs in my blood and I love the buzz. Being on the platform, feeling the power of the weights - it gets addictive!" (britishweightlifting.org, 25 Mar 2021) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (Instagram profile, 18 Feb 2024)