The title of Great Britain’s strongest Paralympian can officially be handed to Dartford’s Liam McGarry after an emotional fifth-place finish on debut at Paris 2024.
McGarry, competing in the over 107kg class, produced a confident first lift of 220kg in the French capital before overcoming two unsuccessful calls for a best of 228kg.
It brought to an end a challenging three years for the powerlifter, who has undergone 31 surgeries in this Paris Paralympic cycle, whilst sustaining four pectoral tears just this year.
Finishing fifth in front of a roaring crowd of supporters, McGarry was overcome with joy.
“I’ve gone through so much to get here it feels incredible,” said McGarry, who is one of more than 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support – which has been vital on their pathway to the Paris 2024 Games.
“There were so many points when I didn’t think I would be here,” he added.
“Some things are bigger than medals and this is one. This means more to me than anything else has in my life because this is my second chance at life and I could never put into words what it means.”
After his second lift was deemed incomplete, the West Ham fan returned to the arena for a third attempt.
Initially also written as unsuccessful, McGarry challenged the call and was handed redemption and a fifth-place finish.
McGarry’s lift of 228kg would have won him bronze in Tokyo. Unfortunately for the Brit, the weights have been piled back on in the three years since, with Iran’s Ahmad Aminzadeh winning gold in Paris with a best of 263kg.
Having the opportunity to celebrate his overturned lift on the biggest stage of them all, McGarry couldn’t have asked for a better end to his Games.
“I was happy to get that first lift and justice at the end as I was harshly done by one two lifts,” he said.
“On the third, I was looking up at the board and there was no way it could not have been overturned because it was an almost perfect lift for me.
“To have that moment with the people who were sat next to my hospital bed all those years ago when I had my accident is amazing.
“I can only thank The National Lottery, ParalympicsGB and British Weightlifting as they have given me something to fight for and to live for.
“That moment will live with me for the rest of my life.”
National Lottery players raise more than £30million a week for good causes including vital funding into sport – from grassroots to elite. To find out more visit: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
