Darren Gardiner
Encyclopedia
Darren Gardiner is a Paralympic powerlifting competitor from Australia. He has won two silver medals at the Summer Paralympic Games
in the Men's Over 100 kg powerlifting event.
. In 1994, he lost his left leg below the knee as a result of cancer. When not competing, he lives in Maylands, Western Australia
and works as a sales manager. One of his heroes is Ray Epstein. He moved from Queensland to Western Australia in 2005. He weighs 125 kg.
. Since 1997, in the powerlifting community, he is known as "the bear" because of the loud roaring noise he makes in his pre-competition warmup. , he is ranked second in the word. , his personal best lift is 235 kg.
He has competed in three Paralympics: The 2000 Summer Paralympics
, the 2004 Summer Paralympics
and the 2008 Summer Paralympics
.
He won a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Games
in the Men's Over 100 kg event, when he lifted 227.5 kg. He repeated his silver medal performance in the same event at the 2008 Summer Paralympics
.
He has competed at several other events outside the Paralympics. In 2006, he finished second at the World Championships. That year, he took a bronze at the Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne. He won a silver medal in 2007 at the European Open. In 2011, he earned a gold medal at the Arafura Games
. He did not compete for most of 2010 as a result of injury. At the 2011 Oceania Paralympic Championships, he finished first with a score of 230, 70 more than second place competitor Abebe Fekadu.
Summer Paralympic Games
The Summer Paralympic Games or the Games of the Paralympiad, are an international multi-sport event, where athletes with physical disabilities compete. This includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. The Paralympic Games are held every four years,...
in the Men's Over 100 kg powerlifting event.
Personal
Gardiner was born on 19 November 1969 in QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. In 1994, he lost his left leg below the knee as a result of cancer. When not competing, he lives in Maylands, Western Australia
Maylands, Western Australia
Maylands is a suburb located approximately northeast of Perth centred on the Midland railway line and located on the northern bank of the Swan River....
and works as a sales manager. One of his heroes is Ray Epstein. He moved from Queensland to Western Australia in 2005. He weighs 125 kg.
Powerlifting
Gardiner started powerlifting in 1995, and first represented Australia in 1998. He competes in the Over 100 kg men division. He trains in Perth, Western AustraliaPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. Since 1997, in the powerlifting community, he is known as "the bear" because of the loud roaring noise he makes in his pre-competition warmup. , he is ranked second in the word. , his personal best lift is 235 kg.
He has competed in three Paralympics: The 2000 Summer Paralympics
2000 Summer Paralympics
The 2000 Paralympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia, from 18 October to 29 October. The eleventh Summer Paralympic Games, an estimated 3800 athletes took part in the Sydney programme. They commenced with the opening ceremony on 18 October 2000...
, the 2004 Summer Paralympics
2004 Summer Paralympics
The 2004 Summer Paralympics were held in Athens, Greece, from September 17 to September 28. The twelfth Paralympic Games, an estimated 4,000 athletes took part in the Athens programme, with ages ranging from 11 to 66. Paralympic events had already taken place during the 2004 Summer Olympics as...
and the 2008 Summer Paralympics
2008 Summer Paralympics
The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, the thirteenth Paralympics, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to September 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao....
.
He won a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Games
2004 Summer Paralympics
The 2004 Summer Paralympics were held in Athens, Greece, from September 17 to September 28. The twelfth Paralympic Games, an estimated 4,000 athletes took part in the Athens programme, with ages ranging from 11 to 66. Paralympic events had already taken place during the 2004 Summer Olympics as...
in the Men's Over 100 kg event, when he lifted 227.5 kg. He repeated his silver medal performance in the same event at the 2008 Summer Paralympics
2008 Summer Paralympics
The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, the thirteenth Paralympics, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to September 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao....
.
He has competed at several other events outside the Paralympics. In 2006, he finished second at the World Championships. That year, he took a bronze at the Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne. He won a silver medal in 2007 at the European Open. In 2011, he earned a gold medal at the Arafura Games
Arafura Games
The Arafura Games is a Multi-sport event held every 2 years in the Australian city of Darwin, in the Northern Territory. It is an international event which draws its competitors from around the world. First held in 1991, the most recent Games, held in 2009, involved over 30 nations and over 3,000...
. He did not compete for most of 2010 as a result of injury. At the 2011 Oceania Paralympic Championships, he finished first with a score of 230, 70 more than second place competitor Abebe Fekadu.