Nothing can STOP ME NOW

Determined Olivia Hyman, 37, lost half her body weight – and gained back her independence

- 

If growing up being different to those around me taught me one thing, it's that I'll never let anything hold me back. I've spent a lifetime defying the odds, determined to prove the outside world wrong. I was so set on being the best, regardless of health challenges, I even won a Strongwoman trophy, as a wheelchair user. I took that same approach when it came to losing half my body weight, to improve my declining mobility and get back some independence. Nothing can stop me when I have my sights set on a goal.

I was three when I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. My shaky coordination and movement made me stand out from my peers. And yet, although I had a wheelchair, I hardly used it. As a sporty youngster, I excelled at judo and swimming. When I was 14, my mum, Nicola, then 44, signed me up for the WheelPower National Junior Games, an annual event for athletes with physical disabilities at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium.

When I spotted a poster for powerlifting, I decided to give it a go there and then. Adapted from the non-disabled version, para powerlifting concentrates solely on the bench-press movement, and it looked like a great way to prove my strength, despite my physical challenges. After benching 30kg, I won the International Potential Award. I couldn't believe it. Clearly, what I lacked in training, I made up for in determination.

I continued training, competing in European championships, winning various medals and benching up to 80kg. When I started studying drawing and applied arts at Bristol University in 2006, I stopped competing but trained at the gym. However, over the years I found my mobility declining, and needed my wheelchair more.