By Adam Newman
On the final day of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Team Usa’s Para powerlifters Bobby Body and Ashley Dyce both made their Paralympic debut, marking the first time in 24 years that the United States has had two athletes simultaneously competing in the sport during a Games. Body, competing in the men’s up to 107 kg weight class, finished the day’s competition just outside of medal contention in fourth place with a best lift of 218 kg, while Dyce finished eighth in the women’s over 87 kg weight class with a best lift of 112 kg, securing both of their best placements in world-wide events and Dyce’s season-best lift.
“If I would have gotten that third attempt, I would have gotten a medal, and it would have been a personal best,” stated Body about his third lift where two of the three judges ruled that he had not paused long enough before re-racking the weight after hoisting it in the air. “It was not a strength issue but a technique issue, so now, I just have to clean it up and get it next time.”
“You want to get on the podium, and I trained very hard to get on that podium,” said Body when discussing his fourth place finish. “But at the same time, I’m here, and I can’t be more proud and happy to be here. I love everything about the Games, and I’ve met so many great people from other countries.”
Agreeing with Body’s comments on his Games experience, Dyce said, “I just thank God that I’m here, that I was able to compete, represent my country, represent my hometown and represent my family.” It was the family members present for both that helped push Dyce and Body to perform well today.
“Having both my mom and dad here is just the world to me,” said Dyce while trying hard to hold back her emotions. “The fact that I can perform in front of them, and they get to watch me live out my dream and just enjoy this experience as well, means everything.”
Body’s brother-in-law and sister, who he doesn’t often get to see, traveled from the nearby Netherlands where they live to watch the day’s competition. They were joined in the stands by Body’s wife.
“Besides our marriage, I would say this is the biggest day of our lives,” said Body’s wife, Erin, whose eyes were beaming with pride. “Seeing him live his dream and compete at this level is the most incredible experience of my life.”
Both athletes have faced recent adversity on their roads to Paris. An injury in 2022 took Dyce out of competition for over a year before her triumphant return to the sport at last fall’s Parapan American Games. Body caught Covid this June which caused him to lose 16 pounds of body mass, and the next month he was informed that he would not be allowed to use his prosthetic leg in Paralympic competition. This led to a rigorous diet program with U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee nutritionists and a change in how he had previously been practicing his lifts.
“I had to fight a bunch of craziness before coming here, but I peaked at the right time,” said Body. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t make a medal happen, but I think our team’s cold streak is coming to an end.”
The Paralympic Games Sydney 2000 were the last time the U.S. qualified athletes in both the men’s and women’s categories of Para powerlifting at a Paralympic Games. Paris 2024 marked a shift of Team USA’s presence in the sport from that of an individual nature to a team focus.
“To qualify and then have Ashley [Dyce] get the bipartite to come here too, and to have two of us here is fantastic,” said Body of being in Paris with his Para powerlifting teammate. “I know there’s only two of us, but it is a huge deal for the future of our sport.”
“It definitely has been nice having somebody else to talk to and hang out with and enjoy this experience with,” said Dyce. “I’m glad that, finally, we’re building this team, and hopefully we can represent USA to the fullest in LA.” With LA28 on the horizon, Body is set on medal vengeance.
“I’m not losing to them again – it’s not happening, not when it’s in L.A.,” said Body as he watched the men’s podium ceremony from the edge of the arena. “I’ll take about a week off when I get home, and then I’ll start back up again. My goal for our very first competition is to be top three there and begin hitting the 240s to start my pathway to 2028.”
Dyce, a California local, also has high hopes for a home Games.
“My goal is to be at the top of the podium in L.A.,” said Dyce. “I haven’t been on vacation since I started powerlifting, so like, eight, nine or 10 years. I will take a small vacation to celebrate this journey, but the work starts as soon as I get back home.”
