Darren Gardiner

Gardiner started powerlifting in 1995, and first represented Australia in 1998.^[1] He competes in the Over 100 kg men division.^[1] He has had the nickname "the bear" since 1997 because of the loud roaring noise he makes during competition.^[2] As of October 2011^[update], he is ranked second in the world.^[5] As of May 2011^[update], his personal best lift is 235 kg.^[2]

He competed at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics but did not win a medal.^[6] At the 2004 Athens Games, he won a silver medal in the Men's Over 100 kg event,^[6] when he lifted 227.5 kg.^[5] He repeated his silver medal performance in the same event at the 2008 Summer Paralympics.^[5][6]

In 2005, he competed at the Trafalgar event in Melbourne, where he won a bronze medal in the EAD category for powerlifting with a lift of 227.5 kilograms (502 lb).^[7]

He has competed at several other events outside the Paralympics. In 2006, he finished second at the World Championships. That year, he took a bronze at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. He won a silver medal in 2007 at the European Open.^[1] He did not compete for most of 2010 due to injury.^[2] At the 2011 Oceania Paralympic Championships, part of the Arafura Games, he finished first with a score of 230, 70 more than second place competitor Abebe Fekadu.^[5][8] He was selected to compete at the 2012 London Paralympics.^[1] He did not medal at the 2012 Games, missing out on a bronze medal by 1 kg.^[9] His retirement was announced in December 2012.^[9] Darren's retirement marked the end of his successful 15-year career.^[3]

• Darren Gardiner at the International Paralympic Committee