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NCHPAD - Building Healthy Inclusive Communities

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Success is a Journey . . . Not a Destination


Imagine being on stage, all eyes on you and with the ultimate tan. With months of training, dedication and a lot of sweat, you are prepared for this moment; showcasing yourself as the best, among all of the others. A few moments of judging are what it all comes down to. And yes, I am talking about the world of bodybuilding, but more interestingly enough - wheelchair bodybuilding!

At 185 lbs (his in-season weight) and completely ripped, Nick Scott, a.k.a 'The Beast' takes wheelchair bodybuilding very seriously. As the USA Wheelchair 2008 Championships heavyweight winner and founder/owner of Wheelchair Bodybuilding, Inc., Nick knows the sport very well.

Being able to bicep curl 180 lbs and bench press 450 lbs, along with his bodybuilding records, are all pretty impressive; but what may be more impressive and interesting is how he first got into bodybuilding.

Nick's introduction into lifting weights began in 1998, when he got into a car accident which resulted in his legs being paralyzed. As he settled back into his life, the realities of his condition sunk in one day in gym class.'When I got back to school I thought that going to gym class would be awesome because I loved it so much (prior to the accident). The reality though - it killed me more because I felt I couldn't do anything like I used to'.



This realization may have discouraged some, but for Nick Scott, it transformed his thought process - 'I told myself if I couldn't do anything, then the one thing I could do, would be stronger then anybody else -- that's when I started bench pressing again!' After a year, not only did Nick transform his attitude, but he also transformed his body - dramatically. Nick became the strongest pound for pound lifter in school and won every bench press contest he entered. Within the next couple of years, Nick entered many power-lifting competitions and the results were positive to say the least. He won 39-1st Place, 2-2nd Place and 1-3rd Place trophies and got 8 Kansas State Records as well as was invited to two Natural Athlete Strength Association World Cups.

In 2005, Nick searched for wheelchair bodybuilding on the internet but found very little. He did however find the 2006 Wheelchair Nationals in March. That following year at the Wheelchair Nationals, Nick placed 2nd in the heavyweight class. Quite upset about his ranking, it fueled him to do more. With that new found inspiration, Nick began his bodybuilding career and developed www.wheelchair-bodybuilding.com/ in 2006 to spread the word about the sport.

Nick's passion for bodybuilding enabled him to create a website - a place where individuals could learn about wheelchair bodybuilding and potentially be motivated to get involved in the sport. For Nick, it's not only important to have wheelchair bodybuilding gain more recognition, but also to help inspire and motivate other individuals with disabilities - it's about helping others.

After the accident, Nick believed he had lost everything - or so he thought! In truth, Nick's story is about perseverance, strength, dedication, and positive thinking. His accident may have changed him forever physically, but it also gave him a new perspective in life - not giving up! Weight lifting gave Nick something to strive for and to succeed in, and in doing so, benefited him more both physically and emotionally than he could have ever expected. He focused intensely on strength training and conditioning his body; and in doing so began to regain some of the sensation in his lower back and legs. A strong mind and positive attitude had fueled his success and became the strong foundation that assisted him in reaching his goals. Nick came to realize that if you set your mind to do something - anything - then you have the courage and patience to pursue it and you can achieve spectacular things!

You've all heard of 'lead by example'. Well, Mr. Nick Scott is one of those people. He practices what he preaches. His life is all about wheelchair bodybuilding, 24/7, 365 days of the year! You can almost say he eats and breaths the sport- his mission, to raise money from sponsors to put on the first ever International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Professional Wheelchair Bodybuilding Show. 'I constantly eat healthy and stay on a strict plan; I watch everything I eat and pay close attention to it. Nutrition is key in getting results.' But Nick's goal is simple -striving for the best!

Besides being a bodybuilding enthusiast, Nick is a certified personal trainer, certified performance nutrition specialist, and a graduate student. He also has a personal website (www.Nickfitness.com), which includes his bio, bodybuilding information, training techniques, videos, nutrition facts, etc. And, in early 2009, Wheelchair Bodybuilding, Inc. was founded, which is a non-profit tax exempt 501 (c) (3) national organization - to provide and support the wheelchair bodybuilding experience to any child, adult, or veteran with a disability with the hopes of providing both physical and psychological value to them. It is pretty clear what motivates Nick to keep going and achieve more. 'There are many things that were difficult; it hasn't been easy these past 10 years; and I struggled to get where I am today, but success is a journey ...not a destination.'


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