Phil Brown, 54, from New Minas Nova Scotia, recently competed at the Canadian powerlifting championships in St. John's, N.L., and went home with new two new medals.

Brown won gold in the 66 kg Masters 2 Special Olympics division and won a bronze medal competing in the generic (open) division, making him the first Nova Scotia special Olympian to have two wins in different categories.

Introduced to weightlifting by his first gym coach, Debbie Key, Brown racked up 185 medals in powerlifting, speedskating and soccer since competing at the Special Olympics at 18 years old.

However, he achieved his 37-year long-term goal of transitioning from the Special Olympics division to competing in the Generic (open) division this year and won a bronze medal.

Brown grew up all around Nova Scotia, he said he had a rough upbringing moving from foster home to foster home and was bullied as a child which motivated him to get into fitness.

"I was abused, beaten up by some kids when I was 10 years old. And being adopted, I spent a lot of time from foster family to foster family."

He said he cried tears of joy, upon finding out he qualified for Nationals at the New Foundland Generic meet.

"People can't give up, you just have to keep on going. It took me 37 years took me to get to compete in generics."

One of the challenges Brown encountered was being called "normal" and asked about his "disability", words he did not like being associated with.

"Some people say 'you look normal.' I don't like people saying that, it makes me upset. I don't like people calling us (a) disability."

He said he preferred the term "special talents."

"We got special talents. The word disability-I want to throw it out the door."

Brown, who quit school after continuing his fourth-grade education, wrote and read this poem to inspire others like him to go after their goals.

"You should be showing strength deep within your heart and show that you are amazing, that you will go all the way to better yourself regardless of how long it will take. Just go for it. And you will surprise yourself. Say goodbye to failures and say hello, I did not give up on myself."

His new goal is to try bodybuilding and sign up for a bodybuilding competition within the next two years.

Brown won 185 Special Olympics medals in powerlifting, speed skating and soccer. Photo contributed.

Listen to the full inspirational interview attached below: