Lee Small; Weightlifter becomes world's strongest disabled man

 

The
damage to his foot was so bad, doctors had to
amputate his leg below the knee.

The 28 year old Lee Small, a former apprentice from
Connah’s Quay in North Wales who lost his left
leg in a work accident when he was just 17 didn't
allow his tragedy to limit him, he basked on to
become the strongest disabled man in the world.


Lee's accident occurred just weeks into his first
construction job when he slipped and got his
ankle trapped in a concrete mixer track. The
damage to his foot was so bad, doctors had to
amputate his leg below the knee.
Despite all that, he refused to give up and had
weekly physiotherapy sessions to help him walk
again. With time, he began weightlifting and after
being fitted with an artificial limb went all out to
go on a tough training regime at a gym to keep
fit.


Now, Lee has won the title of World’s Strongest
Disabled Man. He competed against eight other
disabled men in Reykjavik, Iceland. The activities
they did involved powerlifting rounds including
hand over hand truck pull, dumbell press and the
Hercules Hold.



This victory has deemed him fit to challenge able-
bodied men in other strongman contests. The
married father of one said: " I am gobsmacked but
delighted to have won the title and it just goes to
show the word disability is a nonsense ."


" At the time I lost my leg, I was devastated. I was
worried about how my family would cope, how it
would impact future relationships and if I would
ever be able to have children or a career. Now
I’m married with a three year old son and a world
champion. After the accident I instantly knew that
my life would change but I never imagined eleven
years on it could be for the better. I just hope I
can teach people to think before judging disabled
people. "