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U.S. Army Veterans to Compete in Powerlifting Events at Rocky Mountain State Games

Posted July 16, 2016  Powerlifting

For Immediate Release

Blind U.S. Army Veterans to Compete in Powerlifting at Rocky Mountain State Games

Colorado Springs, Colo. (July 26, 2016) – The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) is sending three powerlifters to compete in the 15th Annual Rocky Mountain State Games; Charles King (Philadelphia, Penn.), local athlete, Thomas Monroe (Pueblo, Colo.) and Dan Finan (Omaha, Neb.).

King, a post-Vietnam war veteran who was honorably discharged from the Army for health reasons has overcome depression, homelessness and cancer since losing his sight to hereditary acute glaucoma. King competed in his first powerlifting competition at 60 years old in 2010 and has competed in multiple international competitions since, including the 2012 International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) World Championships held in Orlando, Fla. where he set a world record in the deadlift.

Monroe served in the Medical Service Corps with the U.S. Army, active duty from 1972 to 1975 and on reserve from 1975 to 1981. He experienced vision loss as a result of detached retinas and cataracts and has competed for USABA since 2009. This weekend, Monroe will compete in all three lifts in the 120+ kg weight class.

Finan, who sustained a detached retina to his right eye due to head trauma at three years old, represented the United States at last year’s International Blind Sports Association World Championships in South Korea and boasts personal records of a 408 lb. squat, 336 lb. bench press and 435 lb. deadlift. However, Finan will focus on the bench press event at the Rocky Mountain State Games this weekend.

“We’re very proud to partner with Colorado Springs Sports Corp on the Rocky Mountain State Games each year,” said USABA Executive Director, Mark Lucas. “The event gives our athletes an opportunity to compete against peers and challenge their level of skill.”

Powerlifting events will take place at the National Strength & Conditioning Association (1885 Bob Johnson Dr.) on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 9:00am. King, Monroe and Finan will compete Sunday.

For media requests, contact Courtney Patterson at cpatterson@usaba.org or 407-496-2183.

Update: Nick Gasaway (Wichita, Kan.) was previously listed as a USABA powerlifter competing in this weekend’s competition. He has since decided not to compete.


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