Wellness Center athlete trains for gold
by Cindy AbolePublic Relations
Like most accomplished athletes, Charleston hopeful Eddie Gregory has settled into his training routine. He may not be as famous in his sport as British powerlifting sensation David Carter, but Gregory has every chance to be just as good with the proper guidance, newfound determination and courage that defines a champion.
Wellness
Center's James Johnson spots for Eddie as he dead lifts 205 lbs.
The 37-year-old Gregory has been training for the past five months with the help of MUSC Wellness Center fitness expert and human services specialist James Johnson. And like a true champion, his focus is on gold and competing in the upcoming Special Olympics South Carolina Indoor Tournament of Sports, Feb. 16 at the Citadel's McAlister Fieldhouse.
Each year more than one million athletes from the United States and 160 countries train and compete in 26 Olympic-type summer and winter sport events. The Special Olympics was founded in 1968 with an emphasis in providing people with mental retardation a chance to develop fitness in sports training and friendly competition. South Carolina has more than 15,000 athletes, ages 8 and older, who will train and compete in 21 Olympic-type events this year.
At MUSC, more than a handful of faculty and staff have children or other family members that compete as athletes in Special Olympics South Carolina events.
Training
buddies Eddie Gregory and James Johnson.
A Special Olympics healthy athlete since age 8, the 5'1", 170-pounder has competed in various sports including basketball, badminton, bowling and gymnastics at previous Special Olympic events where he lived in Florida and North Carolina. He was introduced to powerlifting in North Carolina before relocating to the Palmetto state in 1997.
According to his sister, Paula Byers, development director for the Charleston Special Olympics event, Gregory has held a longtime interest in athletics.
“To my knowledge, Eddie is the first person with Down Syndrome to join the Wellness Center,” Byers said. “Everyone has been so good to Eddie. I think it has been a positive experience for both Eddie and other members. Somehow, the common pursuit (this being improved physical fitness) brings even the most diverse people together.”
Byers learned just how the sport emphasizes strength training, discipline and other positive improvements. As active members of the Wellness Center, Byers eventually found someone who could provide the sports skills and training to help her brother. That person was Johnson, a personal trainer and instructor for aerobics and dance who heads the J2Dance Performance Group at MUSC. Johnson has previously volunteered as a Special Olympics coach for other athletes and possesses a specialty in powerlifting.
“Sports training changes your view of yourself and the world around you in a positive manner,” said Johnson, who chose to volunteer his time and expertise training Gregory. “It has been said that 'the mind can conceive it if the body can achieve it.' To be an athlete is to be a dreamer, a believer and finally a doer. The hope is that it carries over into every aspect of your life and it often does.”
Special Olympic powerlifting involves the use of three basic lifts: the squat, bench press and dead lift. Athletes compete in this sport by weight class. Gregory's specialty is the dead lift, which involves lifting a barbell weight off of the floor and into a standing upright position.
Since August, Gregory has met with Johnson for hour-long training sessions, twice-a-week. He trains on his own on other days. In the weight training area, Gregory begins with a 15-minute warm-up on Nautilus machines and stretching exercises specifically for the lower and mid-back, hips and hamstrings. Next, Johnson moves him to a squat machine and starts him on 100 lbs. for 15 reps and a stretch. Gradually, Johnson adds more weight but decreases the repetitions in preparation for the real thing.
During dead lift training, Gregory is focused and all business. With legs slightly spread and close to the bar, both hands grasp the bar as he dead lifts all 205 lbs. With chin up and back straight, he concentrates everything on his center posture. He finishes his session with a cool down on Cybex and Nautilus machines and more stretching routines and extensions.
When not in training, Gregory stays active working as a bagboy at the West Ashley Food Lion where he has worked for the past six years. He also attends art classes at Dukes School of Ceramics.
For now, Gregory's primary focus is powerlifting. With the final weeks close at hand, Johnson plans to step-up his training by decreasing the rest time between routines and increasing the training cycles.
“Eddie's an ideal athlete,” said Johnson with a smile. “He has good disposition and discipline and loves to train. He genuinely enjoys people and is very supportive in giving his best. Helping him has been a great experience for me.”
For more information about donations and volunteering at the Special
Olympics South Carolina Tourney of Indoor Sports, contact Byers at 795-5316.