Bobby Body seeks to recruit fellow veterans to para powerlifting after fourth place in Paris

PARIS – Bobby Body exemplifies better than most the struggles to grow the sport of para powerlifting in the United States, as well as its untapped potential.

The Army veteran who also enlisted in the Marines, but was medically discharged after a knee injury, turned to powerlifting in 2014 after a therapist told him to work out his aggression.

The 50-year-old became almost obsessed with it to the point his wife, Erin, implored him to stop attending every single competition he could.

At first, Body was lifting against able-bodied competition, and he declined U.S. para powerlifting’s initial recruitment. It took some time, but three years after joining the program, the decision is paying off.