Dale Wilson Overcomes Paralysis To Become Bodybuilding Champion, Personal Trainer

Bodybuilding

Dale Wilson battled paralysis and achieved his goals along with his wife and children.

Dale Wilson, a father-of-three, has become an inspiration for those who are struggling to never give up on their dreams. The 31-year-old has gone from battling paralysis to becoming a championship bodybuilder against all odds.

Wilson has become a champion bodybuilder and fitness trainer in Wigton, Cumbria in England, where he is from. This was always his dream but during a scary morning back in 2018, Wilson was unsure if it would ever come true.

In August of 2018, Dale Wilson woke up next to his wife as usual but could not feel his right arm or leg and realized that his face was dropped. From there, he was rushed to the hospital for tests to figure out what the problem was. The doctors were able to rule out many things, such as lymphoma and an auto-immune disorder, but diagnosed Wilson with a clinically isolated syndrome. This can be the first sign of what could become multiple sclerosis.

“I felt so helpless. I just wanted to help Hannah with our baby boy, but I couldn’t do anything. I lost my job and suffered really badly with depression and anxiety. It got to the point where I couldn’t even leave the house, it was that bad,” Dale Wilson said.

Wilson battled depression for nine months before returning to the gym with one of his close friends. From this moment on, he began setting small goals for himself in order to accomplish the big one.

READ MORE: Paralyzed Bodybuilder Shares Story Following World Championship Victory: ‘I Just Woke Up Like This’

Bodybuilding

Dale Wilson’s Journey To Bodybuilding

At the start of his journey, Dale Wilson struggled to lift a cup of tea because of his paralysis. When he went to the gym, he began by lifting five-pound dumbbells. He did not get discouraged and enjoyed his return and began getting stronger.

“My short-term goal after the paralysis was literally being able to use my hand and arm again properly. Just using a pen, making a cup of tea, opening a door.”

Wilson began training six days a week but in a different way. He had bodybuilding on his mind and wanted to make his debut on stage. Wilson won first place in the over 80kg Fitness Model category during the UK Ultimate Physique competition in October. He followed that up with a victory in the over 75kg division at Pure Elite Model Federation in November.

Dale Wilson wants to one day compete and win a professional show. What he has been able to accomplish proves that he is an inspiration to those who do not believe they can reach their goals.

“My new long-term goal is to one day win a pro show.

I’ve hit the cross bar a couple of times and come second and third. I’ll win one day. There’s no better feeling than achieving a goal that once seemed completely unattainable.”

For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

Greg Patuto
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.