Decision made to ‘get up and live’
‘‘My mum Sherryll has always been the positive one and my dad Craig taught me the value of hard work.’’
Described as a walking miracle with the aid of walking sticks, fast forward to December 2016 and Gordon is not only a bench lifting competitor in the Asia Oceania Powerlifting Championships in Christchurch, he’s also a specialist coach and trainer.
A personal best of 165kgs has set the benchmark for the results Gordon wants to achieve at his first international competition.
His friend and fellow lifter Morrinsville man Justin Lawson will also compete at the championships.
‘‘He saw a pic of me on Facebook and got in touch. We had known each other growing up in Morrinsville - it was like we were drawn back to each other.’’
Gordon has played a pivotal role in Lawson’s training.
His sheer determination has been an inspiration to those around him, but Gordon said it has been the support of his wife, the Waikato/Bay of Plenty and New Zealand Powerlifting committees, his Team Power members, friends and family that have got him through his darkest times.
‘‘My mum Sherryll has always been the positive one and my dad Craig taught me the value of hard work,’’ he said.
Raised in Morrinsville, Gordon moved to Te Aroha following his accident and it was there that he met his wife Ally.
He is a personal trainer and the manager of Healthfit Te Aroha, a gym his mum and dad own.
‘‘To be completely honest, I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have my accident.
‘‘There’s a saying that I love, ‘fall down seven times, get up eight’ and that’s my advice to anyone who is faced with challenges. ‘Always keep getting up’.’’