Colchester's Daniel McGauley wins powerlifting world title

Seasoned sportsman Daniel McGauley has just returned from the World Open Powerlifting Championships in Dubai, where he took home gold in powerlifting in his up to 59kg special olympics and paralympic weight category.

Whilst in the Middle East the 29-year-old, who has Down’s Syndrome, also managed to smash his personal best deadlift - lifting an impressive 120kg which is more than twice his own bodyweight.

Being named the best in the world in his field is the icing on the cake of his spectacular sporting career which has seen him win Special Commonwealth and Special Olympic titles, including four at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championship in Newfoundland this year.

Daniel’s mother Judith McGauley admitted she was a proud patent.

She said: “He is absolutely delighted because he is now a world champion, which was his dream.

“He trains harder than anyone. He works every day because his concentration is not always the same as other competitors.

“An able bodied person would not train a week before a competition but Dan doesn’t get a rest.

“Even before a big competition he still has to train right up to the day.

“But he loves doing it and he gets so many messages of support from all over the world.

“Some of the top lifters in the world have contacted him before.

“Lifting is his life. He goes to the competitions and when he is out at the bar he is the same as everyone else.”

Daniel in action at a previous competition

When he was born Daniel was only given a year to live by medical experts.

As well as Down’s Syndrome, he has autism and is deaf in one ear.

But despite facing a number of major operations including open heart surgery he has defied all the odds.

He took up powerlifting in his early twenties and has gone from strength to strength.

He trains at Hamilton’s gym on Severalls Industrial Estate in Colchester where he is a much-loved member.

Sadly Daniel’s sporting efforts receive no outside funding and the family, who live on the Highwoods estate, have to raise money so he can pursue his passion across the globe.

Judith said: “When you see the pleasure on his face when he competes, it is worth it.

“He never walks on to the platform he always runs because he is so excited. We have to hold him back.

“Everybody says he is inspirational and the guys at the gym say when they see his smiling face it spurs them on and motivates them. The weightlifting community is fantastic and like a second family for him.

“Everywhere he goes they support him and he does not get treated any differently due to his disabilities.”

It is clear Daniel is a special talent. Despite his small size, weighing just 55kgs, he first represented Great Britain in 2015 at the Special Olympics where he came away with four gold medals.

In 2017, he continued his winning streak at the South Africa Special Olympics, walking away with two gold and three silver medals.

Add those to the four won in Newfoundland and the coveted world championship this year and he is building up quite the collection.

And his mum says he isn’t finished just yet.

Judith said: “Now he has won the world championship, which was his dream, I’m not sure what his next target is.

“He just wants to carry on doing what he is doing.

“He has had a couple of days off since the competition but he’ll be straight back in the gym after.

“As long as he is able to lift, he is happy.”