A man who suffers from a genetic disease which leads to muscle weakness and numbness has defied the odds to become a successful bodybuilder.<br /><br />John Nixon, 44, suffers from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a condition that causes nerve damage.<br /><br />But despite the challenges the disease brings, John has become a bodybuilder and even came second in the PCA bodybuilding world finals in Malaga, Spain.<br /><br />John, of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, said: "I joined the gym to feel stronger and to stop falling and tripping as much and I've never looked back. <br /><br />"I've always been pretty good in myself but around this time I was getting quite thin and weak.<br /><br />"Because my condition can be degenerative, I really think I would be in a wheelchair if I didn’t find bodybuilding 17 years ago."<br /><br />John was officially diagnosed with the condition when he was 12.<br /><br />At the time, doctors told him that he must never lift weights and be very cautious when doing exercise.<br /><br />John has many of the key symptoms that are characteristic to CMT.<br /><br />These include numbness and muscle weakness in his feet, ankles, legs and hands, an awkward way of walking (gait) and highly arched feet.<br /><br />To combat the symptoms as best as possible, John has two pairs of custom made orthotic boots that are designed to fit his feet.<br /><br />The boots are the only footwear available to him and are constantly going for upgrades and repairs to help John as best they can.<br /><br />Even with the boots, John describes the daily pain of his condition as a "constant irritation" that won't go away.<br /><br />He said: "The aches and pains almost feel like you’ve been electrocuted at times.<br /><br />"In the morning I can't walk on the hard floor as the pain is too much so getting to the toilet is hard. <br /><br />"I have to wear my boots to answer the door, which can take a while to put on, so sometimes I have to just crawl!<br /><br />"I have to wear them in the garden as well as the grass is too uneven.<br /><br />"Within the last two years too I have had to start taking my crutches everywhere too.<br /><br />"Especially If I go out anywhere that I don’t know what the floor surface is like. I have to have crutches. <br /><br />"I have mobility scooter to walk the dogs though, they love it just as much as me!"<br /><br />Despite all of these challenges and the daily struggles, John has pushed through. <br /><br />He discovered bodybuilding in 2007 and it changed the course of his life forever.<br /><br />He said: "When I took bodybuilding up I didn’t do it to compete.<br /><br />"Before the pandemic I thought about it but that hunger only grew even more as we couldn’t use gyms."<br /><br />John started competing in bodybuilding events in 2022 and he now has three 1st place medals and two 2nd place medals to his name.<br /><br />He said: "After winning several events, I won a pro card to get me to the PCA bodybuilding world finals l in Malaga where I came second.<br /><br />"Just to get that experience of going abroad to do it, it’s the pride and sense of achievement."<br /><br />Looking forward to the future, John is hungry for more competition and aims to compete again next year.
