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.
This story is from the March 2020 edition of Men's Health South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2020 edition of Men's Health South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE BIG WINTER BULK-UP PLAN
MAX OUT YOUR GYM EFFORTS NOW, REAP THE REWARDS IN SUMMER. FOLLOW THIS FOUR-WEEK BLUEPRINT TO STACK ON FULL-BODY MUSCLE, AND GROW STRONGER WHILE YOU'RE AT IT.
HOW TO GET BY WHEN THE WORLD KEEPS GHOSTING YOU
WITH GREATER DEMANDS ON OUR COLLECTIVE MENTAL BANDWIDTH THAN EVER BEFORE, IT CAN FEEL LIKE OUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES ARE PERPETUALLY UNREACHABLE. HERE'S HOW TO REGAIN CONTROL WHEN EVERYONE'S TOO DAMN BUSY FOR YOU.
WHY IS ENOUGH NEVER ENOUGH?
IN THIS ADAPTATION FROM MICHAEL EASTER'S NEW BOOK, SCARCITY BRAIN, THE AUTHOR EXPLAINS HOW OUR CAVEMAN WIRING CAN PUSH US TO WANT MORE THAN WE NEED AND TO MAKE AND REPEAT-BAD CHOICES.
YOUR NEED FOR SPEED
ATHLETES OF ALL SPORTS ARE NOW EMBRACING THE ART OF THE SPRINT. IF YOU WANT TO CRUSH CALORIES, BUILD STRENGTH AND SUPERCHARGE YOUR WORKOUTS, HERE'S HOW TO GET UP TO SPEED
TRACK STARS
IF YOUR SMARTWATCH ISN'T FIT FOR PURPOSE, DON'T SWEAT IT. THE GEEKS IN THE MH LAB STRAPPED UP TO FIND THE BEST FITNESS-FOCUSED WEARABLES FOR EVERY GOAL AND BUDGET.
OIL CHANGE
STILL WHIPPING UP DISHES WITH WHATEVER SWILL IS WITHIN ARM'S REACH? IT'S TIME TO CONSIDER A NEW TOP-UP FOR A FLAVOUR-MAKER THAT'LL TRULY SWITCH GEARS ON YOUR EFFORTS IN THE KITCHEN.
IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT DIET
MACRO COUNTING HAS ITS PLACE, BUT A GREAT TRAINING PLAN CAN BE TRANSFORMATIVE - NO MATTER WHAT, HOW OR WHEN YOU EAT.
IS SWEAT YOUR SECRET SUPERPOWER?
THE WORLD IS HEATING UP. THESE SCIENCE-BACKED STRATEGIES CAN HELP YOU USE SWEAT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE AND STAY COOL.
RISE TO THE CHALLENGE
LUCKY FADZI GAVE HIMSELF JUST 100 DAYS TO REBOOT HIS RIG. HERE'S HOW HIS TRIAL BY FIRE HELPED HIM UNEARTH MUSCLE, TORCH FAT AND BLAZE NEW TRAILS FOR HIS FITNESS
ALAN RITCHSON GOES BIG-FIT AT ANY AGE
Hollywood told him actors don't break past 30. But he kept working, and at 41, after decades of near misses and tiny roles, the Reacher star is busting out.