Born in South Africa I moved out to Australia at the age of 18.  For the next 3 years I played professional rugby in Australia and in the UK premiership before I suffered a career ending injury.

I shattered my C5 and C6 vertebrae in my neck and was left motionless.  I was told I may not ever walk again.  Two extensive surgeries, 8 screws and 3 titanium plates later I found myself having to get up and learn to move all over again.  It took a full year of rehabilitation to get fully functional again, even the simplest things were an effort.

With that goal in mind I started routinely training at the gym and started bodybuilding. It was s low and steady start.  After a year of training I started competing and decided I wanted more. More strength.  I hit the weights harder and got into power lifting. In 2005 I succeeded by being ranked the number one natural super heavy weight in Australia.

My next challenge was climbing into the arena with the world’s strongest men in renowned competitive events.