World Games gold medal powerlifter looks to continue success, make friends at SOMI Summer Games
Special Olympics Michigan powerlifter Ben Bednarz has won more medals than he cares to keep track of.
After several successful years competing at the Special Olympics Michigan Summer Games, Bednarz qualified for the 2014 Special Olympics USA National Games in New Jersey and earned a trip to the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.
While Bednarz said he was pleased with his performance, his goal is to make it back to the 2019 Summer World Games.
Starting Out
Bednarz, 28, began his Special Olympics career when he was 15 years old. The Canton native trained with his Area 23 peers. There he made some of his first friends in the program.
After competing in almost every sport with his friends, Bednarz ultimately found his sports in weightlifting when he was 16 years old.
Bednarz's weight lifting group begins its training each October. The team meets every Monday and Thursday in preparation for the games.
“The group he lifts weights with, they’re just really close,” said Michael Bednarz, Ben's father. “They do stuff outside of weightlifting. I think once he got with them, they just really clicked.”
Shortly after he started, Bednarz's father saw the impact of the sport on his son. He seemed to be a natural.
Ben was lifting an astonishing amount of weight for someone 130 pounds.
Although Bednarz competes against lifters in his weight class, SOMI groups competitors based on how much weight they lift. Bednarz typically lifts with guys who are larger than he is — something his father said is entertaining to watch.
“There is typically not much competition at his weight class. He’s a pretty strong guy,” Michael Bednarz said. “It is funny to watch him go up there because he would be grouped with guys that were head and shoulders (taller than) him.”
The Big Stage
Bednarz usually takes home four gold medals every summer games, but even his dad doesn’t know the total since he’s won so many.
At the 2014 Special Olympics USA National Games, Bednarz collected four gold medals. That achievement placed his name in a lottery to possibly be selected to the 2015 Special Olympic World Games.
After earning the selection, Bednraz had his first opportunity to compete with power lifters from across the world. He said he was excited to represent his country as the only power lifter from the State of Michigan.
In Los Angeles, Bednarz posted some of his best numbers ever. He took home a gold medal in the bench press, putting up 160 pounds. He won a silver medal in the barbell squat, lifting 215 pounds, one in the dead lift, lifting 320 pounds and another silver for his combined total weight of 695.
“It was awesome,” Bednarz said.
One of his favorite experiences, Bednarz said, was meeting so many different people. He made friends from Russia, Great Britain and China. He was also very excited by the appearance of First Lady Michelle Obama and musician Stevie Wonder — someone he said he would like to meet one day.
“It was my first time experiencing that (meeting people from around the world),” he said.
While he hopes to continue his success this week in Mount Pleasant, his main goal is always to make as many friends as possible.
“The stuff he’s accomplished is amazing,” Michael Bednarz said. “I always tell people he’s the nicest person I know. He has the ability to make friends where you would not even imagine somebody could make friends.”
The power lifting competition begins at 8:30 a.m. Friday. Weigh in is scheduled for 8 a.m. The final event, the open dead lift, is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m.
