Q&A'S

• What happened? Why are you in a wheelchair, or why do you have a disability?

  I had polio when I was a child, and it affected both of my legs. Because of that, I have had to use a wheelchair for mobility.

• How did you go about doing it?

  There was no shortcut. I trained consistently, followed a strict diet, worked on my physique, and learned how to present myself on stage. Because of my condition, I had to understand my body differently and adapt my training around my abilities. There were difficult days, setbacks, pain, and moments when giving up would have been much easier. But I kept going. My parents stood behind me throughout the journey. My friends encouraged me when I needed it most. Their support gave me the strength to continue when things became difficult. Competition after competition, I gained experience, confidence, and determination. Finally, I reached the stage I had dreamed about—the Mr. Olympia wheelchair competition. Standing there itself felt like a victory. And when I finished 3rd at Mr. Olympia, I realized that the journey had become much bigger than bodybuilding.

• What motivates you?

  My biggest motivation is the desire to become better than the person I was yesterday. My disability is not my weakness. It is a part of my story. Every time I train, I remind myself of where I started and how many obstacles I had to overcome to get here. My parents, friends, supporters, and everyone who believed in me continue to motivate me. But most importantly, I want to inspire people who believe that their circumstances have placed a limit on their dreams.

• What suggestions or tips do you have for others?

  Don’t allow anyone else to decide what you are capable of. Your journey may be different from someone else’s, and that’s okay. You don’t need to follow the same path—you need to find your own path and keep moving forward. Start with what you have. Work with what your body can do. Be consistent, stay disciplined, learn from your failures, and surround yourself with people who believe in you. There will be days when you feel like quitting. Those are the days when you need to remember why you started. I started bodybuilding at 17 with a body that many people thought had limitations. Years later, I stood on the Mr. Olympia stage and won third place. The biggest victory was never the medal.