Good NDIS: Jonah's Lifting His Way to Brazil

Beating a World Champion, Breaking Records, and Heading to Brazil: Jonah's Powerlifting Story 

Some athletes take years to find their sport. Jonah found his in December 2023, and hasn't looked back since. 

A dedicated Special Olympics athlete who spent years playing basketball, Jonah discovered powerlifting a little under three years ago, with an interest in strongman training following soon after. In that time, he's built himself into one of the strongest adaptive athletes in the country, and this year, he proved it on the biggest stage yet. 

A national title, and then some 

Last year, Jonah competed at a national level for the first time. He didn't take out the Special Olympics division, but he won his weight category outright, a strong sign of what was still to come. 

This year, he came back determined to go further, and he did. At the Australian Powerlifting Alliance (APA) Mega Nationals in Sydney this April, Jonah smashed every one of his personal bests. His final lifts: Bench 127.5kg, Squat 160kg, and a massive 247.5kg deadlift, enough to break the existing Special Olympics deadlift world record of 240kg. 

The result: Jonah was crowned 2026 Special Olympics Best Overall Male Lifter. In a particularly sweet twist, the competitor who'd beaten him at Nationals the year before had since gone on to become the reigning Special Olympics Powerlifting World Champion. This time, Jonah beat him. 

Strongman  

Powerlifting isn't Jonah's only strength. He also competes in strongman, and has held the title of NSW Strongest in the Adaptive Division for the past three years running, proof of just how much all-round strength and determination he brings to everything he takes on. 

Now, he's headed to Brazil 

Off the back of his performance at Mega Nationals, Jonah has officially qualified to represent Australia at the World Powerlifting Championships, to be held in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil in June 2027. 

It's a huge honour, and also a big undertaking. Jonah and his family are now getting ready for the trip of a lifetime. 

Follow along 

You can follow Jonah's training, competition results and journey to Brazil on Instagram.

From everyone at Kismet: congratulations, Jonah! We can't wait to see you compete for Australia.