"We set our own limits. We can challenge them," says Woody Belfort, 26, who is also a motivational speaker.

Sixty-one million Americans—one in four of us!—live with some form of what’s usually called a disability. Men's Health talked to nine people who show that the things that might have once held them back have only unleashed their potential. Read more here.

I’M A BODYBUILDER. Yes, you heard that right. You’re probably thinking of guys who look like the former governor of California and whose arms are so big they can’t scratch their backs—not a dude whose legs don’t work. But for the last three years, my goal has been not only to get jacked and put on a show for the audience but to make people rethink what an outrageously strong body looks like.

“I was born with a form of cerebral palsy and have used a wheelchair for essentially my whole life. Some people with a physical disability may steer away from activities that are just that—physical. I steer into them. That mentality bleeds into nonathletic pursuits, too. I speak four languages and wrote a book, Why Walk When You Can Fly? But more than overcoming obstacles, I want to be in the spotlight, feeling the energy of a crowd, competing and enjoying the moment.

“In June 2022, I entered a bodybuilding competition, the IFBB Professional League Toronto Pro SuperShow. For me, I like to select poses that show I’m big and I’m not here to mess around. I try to hold myself in positions for two seconds or more to demonstrate strength and stamina. I did some of the standard upper-body poses, but then I shared my own moves—the ones I came up with.

“I did a backflip in my wheelchair. Then I did a handstand and held it with the chair upside down, too, still attached. At the end of my routine, I balanced on the chair’s foot bar and pulled off both wheels to finish out my poses. The audience loved it. Standing ovation!

“In the bodybuilding community, I’m the only one doing crazy stunts. I taught myself them because I thought they would be cool. I hope kids with disabilities see me and that it inspires them to try things they want to do. Whether that’s a sport they want to play with their friends or even something else, it’s worth the training and hard work. We are in control of how we live our lives. We set our own limits. We can challenge them. If something looks fun, why not try it?” —As told to Alex Gardner

A version of this article appeared in the November 2022 issue of Men's Health.

Woody Belfort is a champion bodybuilder and motivational speaker. 

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