Following a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down, Chesterbrook’s Johnny Quinn has found new purpose in bodybuilding, writes Patrick Smith for The New York Times.

Competing as a bodybuilder was not on the 40-year-old Quinn’s radar until 19 years ago, when the insurance broker’s injuries put him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

In addition to the physical challenges he had to overcome, the news left Quinn battling depression. However, through faith and hard work, he started to adjust to his new life.

[uam_ad id=”58459″]

Advertisement

To help with his recovery, he started going to the gym, and soon learned about wheelchair bodybuilding. Quinn took on the challenge with the help of his trainer, Robert Caltabiano.

He entered his first competition in 2001, and by 2010, he was crowned the National Physique Committee wheelchair champion.

Today, Quinn is one of around two dozen professional wheelchair bodybuilders worldwide and his home is filled with trophies.

“Bodybuilding is my life; it opened the door for me to share my beliefs, my faith, and how I really got here,” he said. “I don’t need to walk to live.”

Read more about Johnny Quinn’s journey in The New York Times here.

[uam_ad id=”58462″]