MICKY YULE is hoping that three will be the magic number for him next month as the Paralympic powerlifter prepares to launch his latest (and final) attempt to win gold for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The Wallyford man’s previous attempts - at Gold Coast in 2018 and Glasgow in 2014 – ended in injury-induced fourth-place finishes but Yule excels in the face of adversity.
His life was turned upside down 12 years ago this month when, as a staff sergeant in the Royal Engineers on his second tour of Afghanistan, he stepped on an IED (improvised explosive device) planted by the Taliban in Helmand Province.
The resulting explosion saw him lose his legs. Both his arms were broken, his spine crushed and he spent ten days in a coma, two months in hospital and a further two-and-a-half years in rehabilitation. He would undergo more operations (75) than some surgeons perform in their career.
Remarkably, until that point: weight-lifting had been little more than a hobby but it would soon provide him with a welcome distraction.
“It was only after powerlifting was introduced at the London Olympics [in 2012] that I thought there might be a way forward for me,” he said.
“I’d always been strong so I began finding out how I could become involved and what guidance I could receive and, after it was included in Glasgow in 2014 I was lucky enough to be paired with my coach, Neil Crosby, who still works with me now.
“But I never considered competing when I was in the Army: I only ever did it then to keep fit. I’d no aspirations to do anything else.
“Now, when I train or compete, it takes my mind off everything else. It was my little bit of freedom and, when I was concentrating on lifting, I wasn’t thinking about Afghanistan or my injuries or anything else. It also helped because it made me push myself.
“More than anything, I had targets and deadlines and a routine once again and I needed that routine. It also helped me get off painkillers because when you’re medicating through your injuries you can’t train. Now I’m back to trying to be the guy I was before.”
He admits, though, that Birmingham would not be his venue of choice for the competition.
“It takes a lot to get me to go back there,” he said. “When I was injured the hospital I was flown back to was in the city so I’ve always associated Birmingham with quite bad memories. I could do with changing that around.
“I’ve only ever gone there before to have work done so at least on this occasion I know I can visit without someone wanting to cut me open.
“Back in April I took part in a mini-tournament at Loughborough University and I matched my personal best – which I’d set five years earlier – by lifting 195lbs.That gave me plenty of encouragement and, if I can repeat that or even better it in Birmingham, I should be among the medals.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here