Biography

Ephraim Gudgeon of New Zealand has been heavily involved in sports throughout his entire life, with swimming playing a major role in his athletic development. During his teenage years, Ephraim consistently ranked among the top five swimmers in New Zealand, developing the discipline, work ethic, and competitive mindset that would continue to shape his life.

In 2017, Ephraim’s life changed dramatically while on a family vacation. While swimming at a local waterfall, he jumped from approximately 25 meters (82 feet) high. Although he did not strike any rocks or other objects, the tremendous force of hitting the water caused him to break his back and sustain a complete T12 spinal cord injury, resulting in paraplegia and the use of a wheelchair.

Rather than allowing his injury to end his competitive ambitions, Ephraim redirected his athletic drive toward new goals. Having always enjoyed bodybuilding and strength training, he made the decision after his injury to pursue the sport competitively. Guided by his lifelong belief that hard work brings reward, Ephraim continues to push himself in and out of the gym with a clear goal: to become the first IFBB Pro Wheelchair athlete from New Zealand.

Contest history