• Business
  • Life
  • Celebrity
  • Sport
  • Blog
  • Auto
  • Tech
Stories from SWNS
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    5 Interesting facts about online casinos

    5 Interesting facts about online casinos

    Curses of Cousins by Cliff Bacchus

    Curses of Cousins by Cliff Bacchus

    Operation Bluebird by Harry Old

    Operation Bluebird by Harry Old

    Family miraculously survive huge gas explosion

    Family miraculously survive huge gas explosion

    Deputy Chief Medical Officer’s elderly mum receives her first dose of Covid vaccination

    Deputy Chief Medical Officer’s elderly mum receives her first dose of Covid vaccination

    FOOL’S GOLD: Poetry and Postcards

    FOOL’S GOLD: Poetry and Postcards

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Business
  • Life
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    Spending More Time Online? How to Make the Most of Your Time

    Spending More Time Online? How to Make the Most of Your Time

    Why Now More Than Ever Healthcare Needs To Go Digital

    Why Now More Than Ever Healthcare Needs To Go Digital

    The Impacts of Technology in the Casino Sector

    The Impacts of Technology in the Casino Sector

    How IoT Is Shaping The Various Aspects Of The Healthcare Industry?

    How IoT Is Shaping The Various Aspects Of The Healthcare Industry?

    How Can Robots Take Their Place in Casinos?

    How Can Robots Take Their Place in Casinos?

    Three Elearning Trends That Point To The Importance Of Mobile Learning Solutions

    Three Elearning Trends That Point To The Importance Of Mobile Learning Solutions

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
  • Review

    The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild gameplay on the Nintendo Switch

    Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun Review

    macOS Sierra review: Mac users get a modest update this year

    Hands on: Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 review

    The Last Guardian Playstation 4 Game review

    Intel Core i7-7700K ‘Kaby Lake’ review

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    5 Interesting facts about online casinos

    5 Interesting facts about online casinos

    Curses of Cousins by Cliff Bacchus

    Curses of Cousins by Cliff Bacchus

    Operation Bluebird by Harry Old

    Operation Bluebird by Harry Old

    Family miraculously survive huge gas explosion

    Family miraculously survive huge gas explosion

    Deputy Chief Medical Officer’s elderly mum receives her first dose of Covid vaccination

    Deputy Chief Medical Officer’s elderly mum receives her first dose of Covid vaccination

    FOOL’S GOLD: Poetry and Postcards

    FOOL’S GOLD: Poetry and Postcards

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Business
  • Life
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    Spending More Time Online? How to Make the Most of Your Time

    Spending More Time Online? How to Make the Most of Your Time

    Why Now More Than Ever Healthcare Needs To Go Digital

    Why Now More Than Ever Healthcare Needs To Go Digital

    The Impacts of Technology in the Casino Sector

    The Impacts of Technology in the Casino Sector

    How IoT Is Shaping The Various Aspects Of The Healthcare Industry?

    How IoT Is Shaping The Various Aspects Of The Healthcare Industry?

    How Can Robots Take Their Place in Casinos?

    How Can Robots Take Their Place in Casinos?

    Three Elearning Trends That Point To The Importance Of Mobile Learning Solutions

    Three Elearning Trends That Point To The Importance Of Mobile Learning Solutions

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
  • Review

    The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild gameplay on the Nintendo Switch

    Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun Review

    macOS Sierra review: Mac users get a modest update this year

    Hands on: Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 review

    The Last Guardian Playstation 4 Game review

    Intel Core i7-7700K ‘Kaby Lake’ review

No Result
View All Result
Stories from SWNS
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Hero soldier who lost his leg in Afghanistan has transformed himself into a competitive BODYBUILDER

by
March 2, 2015
in News
0
Hero soldier who lost his leg in Afghanistan has transformed himself into a competitive BODYBUILDER

Afghan hero Mark Smith and his partner Natalie (SWNS)

0
SHARES
7
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A hero soldier who lost a leg in Afghanistan has transformed himself – into a champion BODY BUILDER.

Afghan hero Mark Smith and his partner Natalie (SWNS)
Afghan hero Mark Smith and his partner Natalie (SWNS)

Hero soldier Mark Smith, 30, was lucky to survive after being shot twice and had to have his entire right leg amputated after the bullet severed his femoral artery.

But the former Grenadier Guard – who was fitted with a metal prosthetic limb – wanted to be a role model to his sons and took up weight lifting.

The dad-of-two hit the weights and was soon outstripping able-bodied gym goers, pumping 220kg through a leg press – despite one of his legs being prosthetic.

He entered his first ever tournament last year where he scooped first prize and was headhunted to perform against the world’s elite body builders in Texas next month.

The 6ft 2ins soldier – who served in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan and Trooped the Colour four times during a decade of military service – said the sport saved him.

Brave Mark, from Milton Keynes, said: “Body building has dragged me out of a dark place – I was lost after leaving the Army.

“But I didn’t want my two sons to go to school and have to say their dad used to be a soldier, living in the past.

“I wanted to do something here and now that they can be proud of.

“I want to be a role model for them so they see me working hard and hopefully that attitude will rub off on them as they get older.

“It was difficult adapting training routines for one leg, learning a way of squatting and using the leg press but I had a lot of help from the guys at the gym.

“I now train five to six days a week for two to three hours a time and love the challenge of pushing my body as far as I can.”

Bodybuilder Mark Smith who has won prizes for his physique - despite losing a leg in Afghanistan. (SWNS)
Bodybuilder Mark Smith who has won prizes for his physique – despite losing a leg in Afghanistan. (SWNS)

Married Mark joined the Guards straight from school and was involved in one of the toughest periods of the Afghanistan conflict in 2009.

His company was devastated by the loss of three men who were shot by a rogue Afghan policeman and then he lost another comrade to an IED.

Mark, then a Lance Sergeant, was then injured in 2011 during a live-firing exercise in Canada while training for his second tour to Afghanistan.

He was hit in the right leg, with the bullet severing his femoral artery, and in his right shoulder, and had his leg amputated three days later.

Mark has endured 25 operations over the last three years, with the support of Natalie, 30, a teaching assistant, and sons Ellis, four, and Ethan, two,

He took up bodybuilding a year ago after reading about the Pure Elite tournament for disabled people at Margate Winter Gardens in November.

The determined ex-squaddie rebuilt his body with punishing gym sessions and strict diets.

He lost three stones in six months to weigh just under 13 stones, and reduced his body fat from 17 to eight per cent.

Mark said: “Being in the Grenadiers was all I ever wanted to do and my wife was saying I was miserable and needing an adrenaline fix.

“I’ve always been keen on fitness and just read about body building and this disabled competition and entered without really thinking about it.

“Next thing I’m standing back stage is in these trunks feeling quite exposed and wondering what on earth I was doing.

“But my name was called out first and I got a standing ovation. It was incredible. My wife said it was the happiest I’ve looked since the injury.”

Afghan hero Mark Smith and his son Ellis, four, and Ethan, two. (SWNS)
Afghan hero Mark Smith and his son Ellis, four, and Ethan, two. (SWNS)

Talent scouts have invited Mark to the National Physique Committee Phil Heath Classic – a prestigious international disabled body building competition – in Houston, Texas next month.

“In the army I always wanted to lead by example and push the boundaries to see how far I could go and now I am trying to boost disabled body building in the UK,” he said.

“I was surprised and disappointed that there weren’t more people doing it.

“There are thousands and thousands of disabled people and thousands of veterans who could compete and get something from it.

“It can help with self esteem and confidence, there is massive potential.

“I used to look back and wonder what I was missing from Army life but now I have a purpose and can look forward.”

His regiment’s Colonel’s Fund has helped with air fares and accommodation for the trip.

Mark was also helped along the way by Blesma, a charity which supports servicemen who have have lost limbs in service.

Chief executive Barry Le Grys said: “Mark has done amazingly well and it demonstrates what can be achieved.

“But coming to terms with a life-changing injury is very difficult so veterans need help and support to get going again.”

Previous Post

Eighteen stone fitness instructor helps others shed unwanted pounds with plus-size aerobics classes

Next Post

Brighton FC staying poker faced despite dip in form

Next Post
Brighton chairman Tony Bloom

Brighton FC staying poker faced despite dip in form

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected test

  • 81 Followers
  • 43k Followers
  • 108k Subscribers
  • 22.9k Followers
  • 99 Subscribers
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Women love cheesy chat up lines, a study has revealed

Top 20 cheesy chat-up lines ladies really love

March 5, 2014
The top ten most well-known bingo phrases

The top ten most well-known bingo phrases

January 21, 2014
The horses thunder towards a jump at the Grand National

Amazing racehorse names which never made it

April 23, 2014
HGH Injections Brands: Which Ones Are Best?

HGH Injections Brands: Which Ones Are Best?

January 14, 2019
Chris Fear, 33, outside the Coral betting shop which is refusing to pay out on his 485/1 winning bet

Boycott Coral! Bookmaker faces protest after refusing to pay out on a football fan’s 485/1 bet

184
Women love cheesy chat up lines, a study has revealed

Top 20 cheesy chat-up lines ladies really love

147
Women feel invisible to the opposite sex at the age of 51, researchers found

Women begin feeling invisible to men ‘when they turn 51’

138
UKIP candidate claims Jews murdered each other in the Holocaust in masterplan to create State of Israel

UKIP candidate claims Jews murdered each other in the Holocaust in masterplan to create State of Israel

105
Top 5 RTG Games to Try in Online Casinos

Top 5 RTG Games to Try in Online Casinos

February 25, 2021
How to choose a lawyer in Latvia?

How to choose a lawyer in Latvia?

February 23, 2021
3 Simple Luxuries That Can Transform Your Daily Routine

3 Simple Luxuries That Can Transform Your Daily Routine

February 22, 2021
Chelsea Headed To Champions League Return In Good Form As Upcoming Opponents Atletico Get Timely Boost

Chelsea Headed To Champions League Return In Good Form As Upcoming Opponents Atletico Get Timely Boost

February 19, 2021

Recent News

Top 5 RTG Games to Try in Online Casinos

Top 5 RTG Games to Try in Online Casinos

February 25, 2021
How to choose a lawyer in Latvia?

How to choose a lawyer in Latvia?

February 23, 2021
3 Simple Luxuries That Can Transform Your Daily Routine

3 Simple Luxuries That Can Transform Your Daily Routine

February 22, 2021
Chelsea Headed To Champions League Return In Good Form As Upcoming Opponents Atletico Get Timely Boost

Chelsea Headed To Champions League Return In Good Form As Upcoming Opponents Atletico Get Timely Boost

February 19, 2021
SWNS

SWNS all rights reserved. Copyright 2020

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Auto
  • Blog
  • Business
  • Celebrity
  • Gaming
  • Life
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Pictures
  • Property
  • Review
  • Sport
  • SWNS
  • Tech
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Recent News

Top 5 RTG Games to Try in Online Casinos

Top 5 RTG Games to Try in Online Casinos

February 25, 2021
How to choose a lawyer in Latvia?

How to choose a lawyer in Latvia?

February 23, 2021
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

Real Fix is a trading style of South West News Service Limited.
Copyright © 2020 South West News Service Limited.

No Result
View All Result
  • Business
  • Life
  • Celebrity
  • Sport
  • Blog
  • Auto
  • Tech

Real Fix is a trading style of South West News Service Limited.
Copyright © 2020 South West News Service Limited.