Chris Morgan
He competed in the 75 kg Open class from 1998 to 2006. He won the silver medal in the World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation Finals in Atlanta in November 2004, the gold medal in December 2005 at the finals in Turin and the Bronze medal in November 2006 at the finals in Ireland.
Following a break from competing in 2007 due to illness Chris returned in the 82.5 kg Open class, this time mainly competing in the World Drug-Free Powerlifting, single event championships. He has since won Silver in Antwerp 2008 (Squat), Gold (senior) in Antwerp 2008 (Deadlift), Gold in Bradford 2009 (Deadlift), Bronze in Milton Keynes 2009 (Powerlifting), Gold in Moscow 2010 (Deadlift).[1]
During his career he has won Six British Championships. The first of these was in 2005, with a further three in 2008 and then one each in 2010 and 2011. In both 2010 and 2011 he was overall Best Lifter at the British Deadlift Championships. In 2011 he won his first European Gold Medal and International Best Lifter title at WDFPF European Single Event Championships in Voka, Estonia.
Chris Morgan qualified as an International referee in 2009 and has officiated at the World Championships in Bradford 2009, Milton Keynes 2009, Moscow 2010 and Glasgow 2011. He is currently the Coaching Secretary of the British Drug Free Powerlifting Association.
Morgan competed in several Gay Games. He won silver in Amsterdam 1998, gold in Sydney 2002, four golds in Chicago 2006 and Gold in Cologne 2010. He holds Gay Games records in squat (225 kg), deadlift (250 kg) and overall poundage (575 kg)[2] and in the 82.5 kg class he holds records in squat (215 kg), deadlift (252.5kg) and overall poundage (577.5 kg).
Chris Morgan supports a number of charities and sports organisations. In 2004 he became a global Ambassador to the Federation of Gay Games[3] the organisation that gave him the confidence and motivation to be an openly gay athlete.
He was a member of the Football Association's Advisory Group on Homophobia from 2004 to 2008 and was sponsored by sportswear manufacturer Umbro between 2004 and 2006. At the time of this sponsorship deal with Umbro he was the first person to be permitted by the Football Association to wear the official England Football Strip in competition other than the England Football Team.
Chris dedicated his first World Championship Gold Medal in 2005 to the memory of Matthew Shepard.
Chris helped to launch LGBT History Month 2012, which was focused on sports.
Chris Morgan supports the Justin Campaign against homophobia in football. He dedicated his first Gay Games Gold medal to the memory of Justin Fashanu and has written a short tribute to Justin Fashanu[4] and recorded a short video message for the Football v Homophobia Campaign.[5]
He has signed the UK Government's charter for action to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sport.
In February 2012 he published Chris Morgan’s History of British LGBT Sport[6] in celebration of LGBT History Month.
External links
References
- ↑ Gay powerlifter wins third gold medal http://www.ohiofusion.com/?p=4679
- ↑ Chris Morgan's website: Achievements http://www.chunkymuscle.com/achievements.html
- ↑ Ambassadors - Gay Games Cologne 2010 http://www.games-cologne.de/en/gay-games/ambassadors
- ↑ Strong enought to survive - a tribute to Justin Fashanu http://justincampaign.blogspot.com/2012/02/strong-enough-to-survive-tribute-to.html
- ↑ Interview with Chris Morgan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p1aJ2IjvAA&context=C35997b5ADOEgsToPDskJqMFQ4pJsK_HUpJ4t6AUW9
- ↑ Chris Morgan’s History of British LGBT Sport http://www.lgbthistoryuk.org/wiki/index.php?title=Timeline_of_UK_LGBT_Sport
