Powerlifting and Inspiration

Yesterday, I participated in my very first powerlifting competition... and I was called an inspiration quite a few times. For once, I didn't mind it. Let me explain why..

At most sports events, as soon as I show up or simply start, I'm called an inspiration and I just want to throw a tantrum at that point. I want to tell them they should wait until I finish, wait until I've done something other than prove I chose to keep pushing rather than lay in bed and wait to die because that seems to be what most people think they would do if they were to put in my situation. Seriously, I should start charging a dollar every time someone tells me something along the lines of "I don't know what I would do if I had to use a wheelchair." You'd use the damn wheelchair! You'd figure out how to make shit work! Now give me a dollar.

But I digress...

At the competition, everyone was very nice, but I was mostly left to my own devices. I think I was the only one that came on my own (except for knowing a couple of the judges!), so they stayed to their groups, and I stayed at the edges simply observing. When it finally got to the bench and I needed to warm up, a couple of them offered help if I needed it, started talking to me a bit more as my weights went up, and one really liked Saber's spokes. The real change came when I then warmed up for the deadlift.

The woman on the left told me I had just shocked the hell out of her when she looked over and saw me standing with the bar. She told me it was awesome. She told me I was an inspiration. She told me that's not something she says much because it took her a long time to accept it, herself... she's now got Inspire tattooed on her wrist. I told her that I don't usually accept it because it's usually said to me at first impression, but because she said it after watching me all day and seeing me do something that no one expected, it meant a lot to me.

After my first round with the deadlift, one of the guys that had offered help earlier also told me I was an inspiration. He told me that he regularly helps a friend that uses a wheelchair and he had watched with his jaw dropped when I headed up for the deadlift. He asked why I use the wheelchair, what I do to train, and what kind of strength I had. He's been training with his friend to help with his transfers and he was so proud of how hard he works to get as far as he's gotten. Even with my differences, he said it's obvious that I work hard and he was proud of me as well. He also teased me that next time I should "put some weight on that bar!"

So I started the day off kind of on the outside, but by the end of the day I had everyone cheering for me and asking which competition I would be at next.. and I taught them all a little something about assuming what I can and cannot do.

Bench 40kg; Deadlift 85kg; for a total of 125kg and a gold medal!