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
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