“When I’m competing, it’s just me and the bar. The bar doesn’t judge you and there’s no one else to blame. You either have a good lift or you don’t.” Blaze Tres Foster is a USA Para Powerlifting (USAPP) athlete. Originally from Monroeville, Pennsylvania, he was born with a genetic disorder for bone growth called Achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, and while he’s only been involved in para powerlifting since 2017, staying physically fit has always been a part of his life. “I got into fitness when I was 11 years old,” he said. “My older brother was an amazing …

A certified personal trainer and USA Para Powerlifting Coach, Caitlin Brown has a passion for helping people with physical disabilities build strength. Caitlin and her father opened Samaritan’s Walk 2010 when they had their first client with a spinal cord injury. Since then, Samaritan’s Walk has been dedicated to providing a space where those with physical disabilities can receive personal training. In 2018, Samaritan’s Walk became a sanctioned USA Para Powerlifting Regional Hub so that athletes with disabilities from all over the U.S. could learn about the sport and compete at a gym specially designed for them. “It’s amazing to …

Nine athletes who competed at USA Para Powerlifting’s 2020 Regional Qualifier held January 18 on Logan’s campus qualified to represent the U.S. in Bogota, Colombia, in March 2020. That competition will serve as the last stop in the competition cycle, qualifying athletes for Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Qualifying athletes included: Johnathan Coots with 88kg bench Ashley Dyce with 112 kg bench Blaze Foster with 108kg bench Christian Largo with 141 kg bench Luis Gonzalez Poma with 110kg bench Garrison Redd with 122 kg bench Ahmed Shafik with 193 bench Jacob Schrom with 210 kg bench Nicklaus Toedebusch with 82 kg …

This Saturday, January 18, Logan University will host USA Para Powerlifting’s 2020 Regional Qualifier for the Colombia 2020 Road to Tokyo Para Powerlifting World Cup. Meet a few of the stand-out athletes who will be competing on-campus this weekend, then join us in the Wellness Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to cheer them on (the event is free and open to the public!). Ahmed Shafik, 46 – Powerlifting Two-time Paralympic powerlifter Ahmed Shafik is an unstoppable force of nature in the powerlifting community. Although he was diagnosed with polio as a child, Shakif never let this affect his …