Courtesy Photo | Sgt. David L. Douglas, motor transport mechanic with 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st...... read more read more
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BATH, England – Recruiters sometimes tell prospective Marines that the Marine Corps will give them the opportunity to find their dream and help them follow through with it in life. Sgt. David L. Douglas, motor transport mechanic with 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, is an example of the truth in those words.
Douglas, 23, from Oceanside, Calif., became a world champion during the World Power-lifting Championship in Bath, England, Nov. 7.
It all started at his first duty station, Okinawa, Japan, four and a half years ago, where Douglas began lifting weights as a way to relieve stress. As time went on people began to notice his improvements. His gunnery sergeant invited him to participate in one of the weight-lifting competitions between military bases.
“I wasn’t interested at first,” said Douglas. “But after a couple months, I decided to give it a try. I haven’t looked back since.”
From what started as a stress relief method turned into a passion. Since then, Douglas has competed in several weight-lifting competitions and has almost always been the winner.
“I have won over 20 awards and placed first in all [competitions] except one, where I came in second,” said Douglas. “I lost to a man who was well known on base for the past 25 years, Master Gunnery Sgt. Michael Green. After the competition, he told me that he recognized my potential and began training me the very next day.”
Graduating boot camp at only 145 pounds, Douglas is now standing 6-feet tall, 274 pounds, and a power-lifter world champion. He has defeated over 100 international competitors, crushing 605 pounds overall.
“Douglas is a strong kid with a lot of determination,” said Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Reep, a fellow member of Camp Pendleton Bar Bender Power-lifting Team. “For being so young and talented, he has the potential to go far in this sport. “
According to Reep, 36, from Columbia, S.C., Douglas helps the team improve. Seeing what he has accomplished motivates the younger members of the team to train harder, and therefore improves the team as a whole.
“I eat, sleep, and breathe power-lifting,” said Douglas. “I still have a lot progress to make and my determination is unwavering. I plan on becoming Marine Corps Athlete of the Year and win all the major power-lifting competitions of 2011.”
For Douglas, weight lifting isn’t just a hobby or a sport, it’s a life style. It’s what makes him happy and he feels good that he can represent not only himself, but Marine Corps and the United States in these international competitions, while also representing all of those who have supported and believed in him and his goal from the start.
“The Marine Corps has given me a great opportunity to follow my dream,” said Douglas. “Given the opportunity to focus, train, and compete in the WPF World Power-lifting Championship, I believed that I would be able to bring home a world championship medal to prove that Marines can fulfill their duties as well as their dreams and aspirations, and I did.”
The journey doesn’t end here for Douglas as he continues to prepare himself and his team for future competitions nationally, as well as accepting the challenge of defending his title internationally at the European Power-lifting Championship in Limerick, Ireland in June of 2011.
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.24.2010 13:21 |
| Story ID: | 60828 |
| Location: | BATH, GB |
| Web Views: | 565 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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