Finally, after everything I’d been
through, I felt accepted by the
very industry I thought I’d have
had to leave behind forever.”
Following this, Dan received an
invite to perform at the British
Finals in Nottingham.
“When I got the call from Paul
asking me to do a guest spot at
the finals I was absolutely
buzzing,” he admits. “It was
incredible to feel so highly
appreciated and respected.
I accepted the invite without
hesitation. I could barely com-
prehend that such an amazing
opportunity could arise from the
tragic accident I’d been through.”
Dan says the support he was
shown for all his hard work at
the UKBFF finals was the
highlight of his bodybuilding
career.
“Once again, I went out there,
performed my routine and was
met with a standing ovation from
the entire theatre,” he smiles.
“I couldn’t believe it.”
“I reluctantly accepted but wasn’t
keen on the idea at all,” Dan says.
“I don’t even know why I agreed to
go back to the gym in all honesty,
because I didn’t have any motiva-
tion and was completely lacking in
self belief. I was devoid of all future
vision.”
Dan’s friend went one stage
further, by suggesting he entered
a competition as he had planned
to do pr ior to the accident,.
“I had no idea how I’d ever be
ready to get up on stage,” Dan
admits. “I felt as if I was going crazy
by setting myself such a huge
challenge.”
The friend in question was UKBFF
promoter Paul Smith. He set Dan
the goal of being stage ready
exactly one year after they started
32
FLEX | APRIL 2018
training together. And sure enough,
12 months into his programme,
Dan was ready.
“I pushed through the physical
and mental pain barriers to get
myself in shape, but my friends and
family were the ones who really got
me through it,” he says. “My wife
was amazing and I so badly wanted
to make my son proud- I could
never have done it without them.”
When the time came for Dan to
be under the spotlight, his routine
went so well that he received a
standing ovation.
“I couldn’t believe the reaction
I received,” he says. “It was so
overwhelming to learn people really
did like my routine and could see
past the fact I was in a wheelchair.
It actually brought tears to my eyes.
TURNING PRO
Just a few weeks later, Dan was
invited by the UKBFF to enter
their first ever IFBB wheelchair
amateur world championships.
“I went to the show with no
expectations at all,” he says.
“I planned to treat the event
purely as a learning experience.
Dan’s laid back attitude
seemingly paid off- he walked
away from the show having
taken 1st place. This made him
the first ever amateur IFBB
wheelchair world champion.
“Aside from the day my son
was born, winning that show
was the most incredible moment
of my life,” Dan says. “My emo-
tions were running so high on
stage that I cried in front of the
UK team. Legends like Flex Lewis
and Rich Gaspari were stood by
my side congratulating me. It’s
something I’ll never, ever forget.”
The following year, Dan was
awarded his IFBB Pro card,
having done many more guest
spots. But the inspirational