Darren Gardiner

Darren Gardiner wants to be world champion and believes that if you visualise, you will materialise. When he is not at work as a sales manager, Darren is using his mind and body to train for the upcoming Beijing Games.

Darren had his left leg amputated below the knee after having cancer. But he hasn’t let this stand in his way, competing at the Sydney and Athens Paralympics and a host of other international competitions.

In Athens, Darren won a silver medal, lifting a weight of 227.5 kilograms. In 2006, he again won a silver medal at the World Championships and a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games opening competition in Melbourne. In 2007 he gained silver at the European Open and is hoping to go one better in Beijing.

Darren can be heard from miles away before he is about to compete. Nicknamed ‘Bear’, and for good reason, he roars like a bear as he psyches himself up. He says it all comes down to the day of competition and his aim is to always achieve his personal best.