Getbig.com: American Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure
Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: Naked4Jesus on March 29, 2006, 09:40:55 AM
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WILLIAMSPORT -- With a laugh so infectious it hurts the abs, with a mind so tuned it inspires the soul and with a body so toned it could be on the cover of "GQ," Jesse McKinney, of DuBoistown, Lycoming County, is more than charismatic, he's invigorating.
Afflicted with cerebral palsy at birth, McKinney, 36, was the winner of the 2005 National Physique Committee's lightweight wheelchair bodybuilding competition in West Palm Beach, Fla., in February.
The NPC is the official U.S. governing body of men and women's amateur bodybuilding competitions, and in order to become a professional bodybuilder in the International Federation of Body Builders, one must first compete in the NPC.
"People get confused about the competition and think that it is like the Special Olympics, and I know the Special Olympics is a really awesome thing and I love to help out with that. But what I do is actually part of the NPC, which is the amateur version of pro bodybuilding," McKinney said.
McKinney said during high school, he was "very frail and was mistreated by certain people" because he was weak. Then he met a man who had cerebral palsy, as he did, who was a weight lifter.
"He was incredibly strong, and I wanted to be strong, too, so I would never be physically mistreated again," McKinney wrote in an e-mail to the Sun-Gazette.
A graduate of Penn State University, McKinney holds a degree in horticulture. He met his wife, Christine, while attending Penn State, and the couple have a daughter, Kayla, who is, according to McKinney, "Six years old, going on 21."
"That is why I have to look so buff, for when Kayla gets older and starts to date," McKinney said, laughing.
While surfing the Internet in 1996, he stumbled across the NPC Wheelchair Bodybuilding Nationals Web site and thought, "Hey, maybe I could go," he said.
In 1997, McKinney participated in the competition for the first time and placed fifth in the novice category.
"It was then that I became a serious wheelchair bodybuilder. Now, if anyone tried to abuse me, they would be in for a surprise," he said.
In 2001, McKinney placed first in the NPC's novice category; in 2002, he placed second in the lightweight division. In 2005 came his greatest accomplishment to date, placing first in the lightweight division.
"I felt really great because I have worked hard for eight years and have competed since 1997, but I have competed against guys who were on steroids and have upper body control, which I don't have," he said.
McKinney trains with the help of his friend and assistant, Chris Silvangi, using equipment at the Williamsport YMCA three or four days a week.
"We go to the weight room, get him out of his chair to the flat bench, lay him down, strap his legs into position and wrap his hands around the bar," Silvangi said. "At that point, he has full control of his arms, and I just have to wrap my hands around his to hold them in place. I think at that point, the training and his body just kick in."
McKinney, who also works with free weights, agrees with Silvangi that there just seems to be something about lifting that kicks his muscles, which are not usually under his control, into high gear.
"When I lift, my body can only move one way," he said.
(http://www.post-gazette.com/images3/20050424ap_mckinney_450.jpg)
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05114/492890.stm (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05114/492890.stm)
Discuss!!
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Very inspirational, thanks for posting it. I truly mean that.
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Very inspirational, thanks for posting it. I truly mean that.
Thou art truly welcome!
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Thou art truly welcome!
;D really cool post though, although some people here will probably think it's cool to make fun of him ::)
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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What a great story, it has to be hard to stay motivated when you don't even have control of your movements. Thanks for posting that and I wish him good luck.
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he's a champ in more ways than 1
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Great story. 8)
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during the commonwealth games there was powerlifting. saw a guy strapped on a bench and do 220kg like it was literally 100lbs. flew up so so so fast. was an aussie. prob went on to do 250kg plus.
in my uni gym there is a few guys who are in wheel chairs an dlet nothing stop them. cool to see.
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WOW
Amazing story.
He looks better then Alexxx.
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WOW
Amazing story.
He looks better then Alexxx.
I thought that was Alexxxx
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Good for him !
Do they have some kinda special contest for those guys ?
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respect
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this guy's incredible, most IFBB pros would be curled up in the fetal position crying for their mommies if they had to do without their insulin/GH cocktails let alone drug free and in a wheelchair, this guy is a man.
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I agree! This guy deserves all the respect in the world! He has more drive and dedication than anyone. Mad props to him!
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http://www.musclejesse.com/
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imagine he got some juice and transformed into a real freak
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This really mad my eyes well up. What a warrior oh yes. He's dedicated and inspiringingining yeah aweomseme....
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There are varying levels of CP, this guy seems to have one of the more difficult stages. It could be anywhere from simply walking with a goofy looking gate, to the complete inability to control your body.
CP causes muscle spasms and extremely tense/tight muscles. The fact that this guy has gotten to this point in his muscular developement is truely inspirational. Mad props out to this dude, and the best of luck in the future.
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Nice Lonnie. Very inspirational. I'll read it again, when I don't feel like training because of some little thing. This guy trains through "little things" God Bless Him.
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(http://www.musclejesse.com/images/Arnold-Letter.jpg)
http://www.musclejesse.com/
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Look at the black guy owning everyone. Even doing a stomach vacuum.
(http://www.musclejesse.com/images/Flex05.jpg)
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Do you think those guys inject in their ass or delts? Monster synthol! That CP dude needs to eat more!
Special "I'm Handicapped Too" Ed
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the funny thing is that their calf development is equal to many ifbb pros
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Nice thread.
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How the fuck did #7 - the black dude - not take the overall?
Ridiculous.