Dave Walsh is thriving through strength and adaptation

Dave Walsh learned that your dreams and aspirations don’t have to end with a disability. The way you get to achieve your dreams is to learn how to adapt.

Dave Walsh originally shared his story with Yoocan, a global collaborative community where people with disabilities share experiences and knowledge — so that no one feels alone. Yoocan and Why We Play are a natural match and overlap in the most important thing for our community INSPIRATION. FanSided is excited to partner with Yoocan and share some of their stories on our website — exciting and fantastic sports stories from people with disabilities. Come check out more of our joint material, and keep following for collaborations!

When I was 16, I joined the British Army. I traveled the world, did a tour in Iraq, was a very keen sportsman and an adventure training instructor. I left the forces after eight years for a more stable life with my wife and kids.

Adjusting to civilian life was difficult, so I started weight training and quite soon after that, I signed up for my first Strongman contest. After that first contest, I was hooked! I loved everything about Strongman from training to competing. I was competing in competitions all across the U.K. at a good level, qualifying for Britain’s Strongest Man in my federation!

However, in 2014 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I’ve had a number of symptoms from spasms to mobility issues to hand issues. I have Secondary Progressive MS meaning my MS never gets better, it actually gets progressively worse. I have multiple permanent scars on my spine due to previous attacks. I now suffer from mobility issues meaning I need to use a wheelchair or other mobility aids. This was a huge blow to me, I didn’t know what to think because MS is called a snowflake disability because no two cases are the same! All I knew was I wouldn’t be able to compete in the competitions that I loved…or so I thought!!

In 2016, while searching YouTube and watching people compete in Strongman competitions I stumbled across someone doing disabled Strongman! Immediately, I got on to searching all about disabled Strongman and came across a great community all with the same goals.

My first disabled contest was the South of England’s Strongest Adaptive Man where I placed first and got the world record in the Seated Deadlift! A few months later, I competed in my first Britain’s Strongest Disabled Man competition and placed third. I then took some time away from the sport to focus on my health. When I came back I placed third again and was invited to the 2019 World’s Strongest Disabled Man competition but this contest was in Canada which was a lot to consider in such a short amount of time.

As the 2020 contests came closer, I was training hard. That’s when COVID happened and we thought the contests would be called off! Luckily, we were still able to compete in December where I placed second in the Strongman Disabled Man in the World competition and came first in Britain! Through my transition from being able-bodied to having a disability, I have learned that your dreams and aspirations don’t have to end. The way you get to achieve your dreams is to learn how to adapt.

Why We Play features stories about the power of sports to bring us together, overcome obstacles, make positive change and reach everyone. Read more here.