Strongman Mac McLaren has been through an incredible transition, ditching his 6,000-calorie daily intake and shedding three stones to make the UK wheelchair rugby team for the 2025 Invictus Games.
The former soldier, who won the World’s Strongest Disabled Man for three years running, needed a drastic transformation to build up his athletic capacity and stamina to compete in the high octane team sport of wheelchair rugby.
“It was some change as I would eat six meals a day for strongman events which need explosive power while wheelchair rugby is non-stop and all about aerobic capacity, stamina and endurance,” says Mac, a former Royal Highland Fusilier, who had his right leg amputated because of long-running pain and complications following injuries while serving in Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Iraq.
Mac, from Gillingham, Kent, first tried out for wheelchair rugby – when it was called murderball - in 2019 but turned to strongman events after he failed to make the UK squad.
“I tried unsuccessfully three times before so I was delighted to get selected this time and even more proud to be made captain of the team,” adds 46-year-old Mac, who has been supported by the charity Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, in his quest for sporting glory.
“Wheelchair rugby is fast and furious and it took me a while to adapt after reducing my daily intake from 6,000 to 1,500 calories and dropping down to 13 stone. But I’m in great shape and it is fantastic to be part of a great squad that has really gelled. We are definitely going out there to win.
“Having the support of Blesma has been crucial to me being able to train and compete at both strongman events and for the Invictus Games.”
The UK will be battling 12 other nations in the wheelchair rugby event and must triumph in pool games against New Zealand and Italy to progress to the knock-out stages with all matches being played on February 13th, 2025. The Games, which will attract more than 500 competitors from 23 nations, runs from February 8th to 16th, 2025.
“This journey started in 2019 for me and it is great to have made so much progress and to be able to spread the word for disability sports,” says Mac, who trains every week with the Saracens club and regularly with the UK squad.
“It is an absolute honour to represent my country and be captain, and we want to show the world what the UK is made of.
“There’s been a lot of effort and sacrifices and I couldn’t have got here without my partner Clare. To go out there and wear the Union Jack representing my country again, as we did in the forces, is the ultimate.”
Tony Bloomfield, Blesma’s Operations Director, adds: “Mac has done incredibly well to achieve so much as the World’s Strongest Disabled Man and then to make it to the Invictus Games. Blesma is proud to help him and other Members achieve their goals and live independent, fulfilled lives after injury.”
Follow Mac's Instagram and Facebook profiles to find out more about his incredible journey to the Invictus Games.
You can also follow Blesma's social channels on Facebook, Instagram and X, where we will be posting updates about our Members at the upcoming Invictus Games.
Blesma are dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and women who have suffered life-changing limb loss or the use of a limb, an eye or sight. We support these men and women in their communities throughout the UK.
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