Powerlifter with Down syndrome wins more gold medals in European competition

Weightlifting champ Dan McGauley won two more gold medals in Europe last month, adding to the impressive athletic record he achieved despite facing multiple obstacles at 33 years old.

McGauley was born with Down syndrome, autism, one deaf ear, and has a heart condition that led to two open heart procedures. As Live Action News previously noted, his mother said they faced daunting prospects:

Dan’s mother, Judith, said that he’s gone through a lot. “He’s had a lot of setbacks. The doctors said he wouldn’t survive another round of open-heart surgery,” she explained. “He’s been in a wheelchair, and he’s had 40-odd operations on his ears.”

But if doctors had been correct, Dan never would have made it as far as he has in the first place.

“We were told he wouldn’t walk, he wouldn’t talk. He wouldn’t go to school, he wouldn’t achieve anything. They didn’t want to do his heart surgery because they said he’d never make any valuable contribution to society,” said Judith.

And yet, he’s won multiple weightlifting awards, including three gold medals in special olympics at the Commonwealth Games. According to the Daily Mail, he competed in Bordeaux, France, more recently and took home gold medals in the raw and equipped bench press.

His mother Judith reportedly competes alongside him and won multiple medals in Canada, South Africa, and the recent European games. 

British powerlifter with Down syndrome aims for gold at the Commonwealth Games | SWNS

“He’s so respected all over the world because people know the training that goes into equip lifting – but it’s the discipline that he really enjoys,” Judith reportedly said of her son.

“I started training alongside him years after he started and he always jokes around saying that he has way more gold medals than me.” She added that Dan “is just a brilliant person. He loves the sport and everyone around him support him doing it.”

At 5’2’’, McGauley competed in the under 59 kg weight category. He benched 90 kg equipped and 70 kg raw, according to the Mail.

According to his mother, he’s been an inspiration to others in their training.

“The amazing thing about Dan is he inspires able bodied lifters as well as people with disabilities,” she said.

“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. But that they see Dan there, smiling and laughing despite all his problems, and it gives them the motivation they need.”