Dave Walsh is thriving through strength and adaptation
By Ian Levy
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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.
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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.