{"id":299083,"date":"2023-09-22T12:42:47","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T17:42:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=299083"},"modified":"2023-09-21T14:25:11","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T19:25:11","slug":"powerlifter-down-syndrome-gold-medals-european","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/powerlifter-down-syndrome-gold-medals-european\/","title":{"rendered":"Powerlifter with Down syndrome wins more gold medals in European competition"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Weightlifting champ Dan McGauley won two more gold medals in Europe last month, adding to the impressive athletic record he achieved despite facing multiple obstacles at 33 years old.<\/span><\/p>\n

McGauley was born with Down syndrome, autism, one deaf ear, and has a heart condition that led to two open heart procedures. As Live Action News previously <\/span>noted<\/span><\/a>, his mother said they faced daunting prospects:<\/span><\/p>\n

Dan\u2019s mother, Judith, said that he\u2019s gone through a lot. \u201cHe\u2019s had a lot of setbacks. The doctors said he wouldn\u2019t survive another round of open-heart surgery,\u201d she explained. \u201cHe\u2019s been in a wheelchair, and he\u2019s had 40-odd operations on his ears.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

But if doctors had been correct, Dan never would have made it as far as he has in the first place.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were told he wouldn\u2019t walk, he wouldn\u2019t talk. He wouldn\u2019t go to school, he wouldn\u2019t achieve anything. They didn\u2019t want to do his heart surgery because they said he\u2019d never make any valuable contribution to society,\u201d said Judith.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

And yet, he\u2019s won multiple weightlifting awards, including three gold medals in special olympics at the Commonwealth Games. According to the <\/span>Daily Mail<\/span><\/a>, he competed in Bordeaux, France, more recently and took home gold medals in the raw and equipped bench press.<\/span><\/p>\n

His mother Judith reportedly competes alongside him and won multiple medals in Canada, South Africa, and the recent European games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n