Q&A'S

• What happened? Why are you in the wheelchair?

  In 2010, I was involved in a serious car accident. At around 1:30 a.m., I was driving about 110 mph when I struck a corner post in a field. I wasn't wearing my seatbelt, but the airbags helped keep me inside the truck as it flipped end-over-end about six times before landing upside down.
  
  I was trapped in the truck for approximately six hours before anyone found me. The accident caused a T10–T12 incomplete spinal cord injury, resulting in paraplegia and putting me in a wheelchair.

• Why did you get started?

  I got started because training gave me something bigger to chase. Being in a wheelchair comes with challenges, but I never wanted those challenges to determine what I was capable of becoming. The gym became a place where I could push myself physically and mentally, build confidence, and continually prove to myself that there was another level I could reach. Over time, bodybuilding became more than training—it became part of my purpose and a way for me to use what God has given me to inspire others.

• What made you want to compete?

  Once I saw what was possible in wheelchair bodybuilding, I wanted to find out how far I could take it. I didn’t just want to participate; I wanted to compete against the best and eventually become one of the best in the world. That competitive drive took me from chasing improvement to becoming an IFBB Pro and ultimately reaching the Mr. Olympia stage. Every competition gives me another opportunity to raise the standard for myself and help bring more attention to wheelchair bodybuilding.

• How did you go about doing it?

  I committed myself to the process. I learned how to adapt training around my limitations instead of allowing those limitations to become excuses. Training as a wheelchair athlete can take longer, equipment isn’t always accessible, and sometimes you have to find a completely different way to accomplish the same goal. I stayed consistent, surrounded myself with knowledgeable people, learned from every prep and competition, and kept improving. Eventually, that work led to earning my IFBB Pro status in 2022 and competing at the highest level of the sport.

• What motivates you?

  My faith, my family, the people who believe in me, and knowing that what I’m doing reaches beyond bodybuilding. I’m motivated by becoming better than the person I was yesterday and showing people—especially adaptive athletes—that circumstances don’t have to determine the size of your goals. Winning matters to me because I’m a competitor, but the bigger purpose is leaving a legacy and helping push wheelchair bodybuilding forward.

• What suggestions or tips do you have for others?

  Don’t compare your starting point to somebody else’s finish line. Focus on what you can control and find ways to adapt around what you can’t. Be consistent, stay coachable, surround yourself with people who genuinely want to see you succeed, and understand that progress takes time. There will be setbacks and moments when things don’t go according to plan, but those moments can either stop you or teach you. Keep your faith, keep showing up, and never allow someone else’s idea of your limitations to become your own.