Sights, sounds and stories from WABDL Worlds 2009. Do you have a inspirational story to share about Worlds 2009? Send to the WABDL Webmaster.
To follow is a story from Jeffrey Begue about his father Bruce who recently competed at the WABDL World Championships in Reno, Nevada. A video is included as well.
My Dad, Bruce Begue, has been an amazingly supportive force in not only my life but in my powerlifting career as well. He has made many long road trips all over the US, to come to various meets to assist in any way he can or just to simply show his support. A current member and 39 year veteran of the Ohio Army National Guard, he still must take and pass annual PFT tests while fulfilling his role as a Master Sergeant/First Sergeant in his unit. Staying physically fit has always been a way of life for him. It was actually him who led me to an interest in weight training as I always remember wanting "guns" like his.
The past few years have dealt him some pretty hard knocks. A few personal issues gave their best efforts to put him out of commission and began to seperate him from the man he was. Significant weight loss, a few health concerns and a whirlwind of distractions began to tear away at him physically and emotionally.
As time passed, I continued to compete. Despite everything he had going on, he continued to show his support. Never wavering, never faltering. I asked him to consider making the trip to Las Vegas for the WABDL World Championships in 2008. Knowing the price and practicality of missing a week of work last minute, I didn't expect him to go. Late one night, 3 weeks out, he called, "I want to go" he said. " I want to be there with you at Worlds." I trained like none other for that meet. Excited for not only Worlds but for the chance to hit that stage with him there. I asked him in the warm-up room for a lift-off the day I was competing, his hands were shaking. When I asked him why, he responded, "I am so nervous". It was then I asked him to do ALL of my lift-off's, not only in warm-ups, but on stage as well. His response, "I don't know, I don't want to screw this up". I will never forget that. Be it a PR, or a bombout, we were going to go on that stage together. I remember while laying on the Forza, watching his hands trembling as he gripped the bar for the lift-off. I remember thinking during that attempt that he set aside life during one of its most challenging times for him to support me on the biggest platform I have ever known. I remember looking for him as I jumped of the bench locking out a then PR and sealing up the win. It was the greatest meet of my life...until recently.
A few months had passed, things began to fall into place and a sense of balance slowly began to take shape. His focus began to move from the negative to the positive. His health and fitness again a priority. The man we knew began to take charge. He decided to enter the WABDL Buckeye Hall Of Fame Classic stating, "were going to Worlds again, this time I'm competing". At 57 years old, his powerlifting career had begun. He won his class, qualified for Worlds and over the next few months began to work relentlessly toward his goal of competing at the World Championships. Nagging shoulder injuries, pounds of ice, tube after tube of Hot Stuff and trying to learn a bench shirt all became mere notches in his confidence and experience as he fought each week for improvement. Finally, the moment came, the stage was set. Reno, Nevada and the WABDL World Championships at the Peppermill Hotel and Casino. For me, it was a moment I will never forget. Seeing his journey, being part of his training, having the opportunity to witness his goal first hand. His start to his career at 57 years old. This man, my dad, refusing to let adversity get the best of him.
I am unable to put into words the meet itself, I am attaching the video to aid me in doing that. At the end of the day, I watched him walk to the front of the ballroom and grab his first place trophy. His title of World Champion. And more importantly, I watched him take his life back. It was a day I will never forget. It was the greatest meet of OUR lives.
Thank you for taking the time,
Jeffrey M. Begue
The Iron Chamber Gym
