Bodybuilder Defies Doctors To Win Fitness Competition After Being Fitted With A Colostomy Bag

    "There is two ways you can react to a major health problem. You can either think it's game over or you can do what I did and say I think I can do it and give it your best shot."

    Richard James
    by Richard James

    BuzzFeed News Reporter, UK

    Bodybuilder Blake Beckford was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2003 and thought he'd have to give up on his dream of becoming a fitness model.

    Newsteam

    The father of one spent a decade trying to keep the bowel disease under control with a variety of different drugs.

    But after a bad flare-up in 2012, doctors decided last year to remove his entire colon and divert his small intestine through his abdomen and into a colostomy bag.

    When he left hospital he was told he'd never be able to train as hard as he had before.

    But Beckford decided to defy the medical advice and returned to the gym.

    The results were extremely impressive.

    And this month he entered a male fitness modelling competition, and won.

    Matt Marsh / Newsteam

    The 33-year-old took part in the Pure Elite event in Margate, Kent, on 2 November, the Daily Mail reported.

    He won the Male Transformation category, came fourth in Tattooed Muscle Model, and came fifth in Fitness Model Under 75kg.

    According to the Mail, Beckford is now planning to enter other events in the UK next year.

    Matt Marsh / Newsteam

    "It was my first ever competition," the newspaper quoted him as saying. "I was just starting to get into it over 10 years ago when I was struck down by the ulcerative colitis.

    "It was absolutely amazing to be able to go to a competition and compete against and beat people that haven't had to go through what I have gone through."

    He added:

    There is two ways you can react to a major health problem. You can either think it's game over or you can do what I did and say I think I can do it and give it your best shot.

    I just want to inspire others and I get so many messages from people who have had surgery saying they want to get back into their football or other sports which is great.

    Matt Marsh / Newsteam