OT Why the Gold Medal?

Some individuals have ask me over the years who is Shawn and what is the gold medal for? I Coach Special Olympic Powerlifting team here in eastern Oregon... Well here is what one Gold is for.

Keith & Shawn(Gold Medal winner)

Oregon Special Olympics Powerlift Regionals Mar. 2011
Shawn's 435 lb Gold Medal Deadlift

Looks like he would have no problem lifting tractor wheel weights or suit case weights thats for sure!!

Thanks Keith;

A big congrats on the win and for you coaching.

I know what a gold medal is and what they mean. I have one. It means a lot to me. My 89 year old mother was very proud of it. She told everyone in the home about it.

On June 5 2010 I did something for the first time. I entered a powerlifting meet in Omaha NE. It was put on by the 100% RAW Powerlifting Federation. It was held in 8 states at the same time with over 350 lifters. It was called The American Challenge and it was for the National Championship. I won my age and weight class. I was 67 yrs. old and SHW. My gold medal was for the stric curl, 44 lbs., a world and national record. I got two nice statue trophies for the dead lift and push-pull. The dead lift is my favorite. I set the world and national record at 203 lbs.

I did it two and half years after coming out of a five week coma. I almost died. I spent three months in a skilled nursing home for rehab. I was bed ridden, a hoyer lift and a wheel chair. I walked out with a cane and no help.

In February I went back and lifted again. I got four big gold cups, first place wins and I broke all of my records. On June 18 I am going back For the second American Challenge and hope to get a third world record I don't have, the full powerlift.

I am just trying to share with you. My hat is off to you both. I am proud of you.

I also have a big gold ring that says WORLD CHAMPION on top of it. My Mother bought it but didn't live to see it. I am proud of it.

Charley gold medal winner and world champion powerlifter.

Charley, Congratulations on your medals and trophies. I still deadlift with my athletes, don't train as much as I should though. I can still deadlift 335 at 69 yrs young.


Keith & Shawn(Gold medal winner)