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athlete hadn’t entirely overcome the battle with his mind. “After I earned my Pro card, I encountered a couple of difficult years during which I suffered with depression and anxiety,” he says. “It really took its toll on me to be honest, and my wife and I decided to get a divorce. Whilst our separation was amicable, I had no motivation or drive to do anything. My world literally fell apart around me.” Thankfully, Dan managed to get his act together just as the IFBB and BodyPower UK announced their plans to add the wheelchair Pro category to the 2014 Pro show. “This news came as the wel- come drive I needed to turn my life around,” says Dan. “I felt under immense pressure, because unlike the previous shows I’d been doing which were in the USA, I was faced with the prospect of posing in front of a UK audience who knew me on home turf at BodyPower.” Dan trained his way through an elbow injury and got his diet on track to produce a very respect- able package. “I didn’t feel great on stage- I was very flat but very vascular,” he says. “I gave it my all against the great Harold Kelly and Nick Scott from the USA and I don’t regret going out there and doing that.” BAD THOUGHTS In a sad turn of events, depression and suicidal thoughts took hold of Dan in the months that ensued. “My elbow was giving me excruciating pain and prevented me from training,” he explains. “I was once again stuck in a rut from which I could envisage no escape.” A hopelessly lost Dan turned to alcohol and cigarettes, but for a second time a friend came to his rescue. “I wasn’t answering my phone because I couldn’t face seeing anyone,” he confesses. “When a friend and training partner knocked on my door, I felt truly embarrassed at the state I’d allowed myself to get in. That friend later told me he feared the worst for my health.” Luckily, Dan managed to have three operations performed privately on his elbow which restored the movement. This enabled him to start training again, but by this stage he’d lost a great deal of his muscle mass. “I couldn’t stand the site of myself in the mirror,” says Dan. “I needed to get myself back- the real me. Thankfully, the bodybuild- ing mindset kicked in.” A determined Dan kept himself to himself and worked his way back into a place where he feels good both mentally and physically. He’s now bigger and denser than ever before. “I’m back!” Dan announces. “I plan to step on stage again within the next year and to enter the Arnold Classic in 2019. I want to bring my best condition yet.” Despite his battle with depres- sion, Dan has proven the true bodybuilding mindset can help to overcome all odds. “Not many people know or can understand how such a traumatic accident impacts on your life,” he says. “Telling my story hasn’t been easy- especially as bodybuilders appear so strong and indestruct- ible. The truth is, we’re all vulner- able deep down. If I can motivate just one person who’s in a similar situation then I’m happy. “I’m living proof that even when everything in life looks as if it’s stacked against you, you can still achieve your goals and live out your dreams. Don’t let anything stop you- I didn’t!” APRIL 2018 | FLEX 33