What Is Strength For?

This year marks the 23rd year of Men’s Health making better men. In this time, we’ve become known for building strong bodies, shredding abs and burning fat fast. And while we’ve spent more than two decades helping you, our readers, craft cover-worthy bodies and superhero strength, we know that not all strength is designed totally up likes on Instagram. Strength goes beyond the aesthetic goals and testosterone-fuelled drive to lift heavy things. The guys on these pages embody the kind of strength forged not with iron, but with an iron mindset. It’s strength that inspires, strength that persists under pressure. These are their stories.

- Kelleigh Korevaar

STRENGTH IS FOR

SHOWING WHAT YOU’RE MADE OF

LEONARD BAILEY, Athlete, age 30, 164cm, 103kg

THE WALLS OF LEONARD ‘Lenny’ Bailey’s family home are lined with gold, silver and bronze medals. There are 80 in total. Along with the medals are newspaper clippings and certificates showcasing his athletic achievements.

Lenny first started athletics in Grade 1. Born with Down Syndrome, he attended the special needs school, Dorothea Primary. Although Lenny tried track first, it was clear that he was best suited for field events such as shot put, discus and javelin. Once he made the switch, he was a dominant force – even in Primary School. In 2003 he became the Boland, Western Cape and SA champion for his events in his age category. A feat he managed to repeat every year until 2010. “I really love athletics,” he says. “I always try to do my best and practice hard for all the events.”

With each passing year, Lenny’s best become even better. In 2010 he attended his first World Down Syndrome Championship in Mexico where he won a gold medal in Shot Put and a silver in discus and javelin. In 2012 at the championships in Portugal he broke the world record for shot put. In 2015, he broke his own World Record for javelin and shot put, while snagging silver in the discus. Records he once again broke in 2016, but this time he also broke the World Record for discus. Since then he’s been an unstoppable force, racking up medals at every event. “I’m beginning to run out of space in my living room,” jokes his mother, Angeline.