Nick Scott Wheelchair Bodybuilder
A humble Ottawa University alum visited campus for a little under an hour and caught up with more than five old friends from his college years. Nick Scott has become what some would call a local legend. He has been interviewed by the Kansas City Star and many television stations about his nationwide business of Wheelchair Bodybuilding.
Nick was an avid athlete at his high school in Pomona but on Aug. 17, 1998, his life was turned upside down, literally, five times. On his way to football practice, the left front tire of his car blew out flipping the vehicle over five times. Nick was ejected from the car through the driver's side window and ended up colliding with his own vehicle before it eventually stopped flipping. He was diagnosed as a paraplegic and told he would never be able to walk again.
A year and a half after the accident, Nick used forearm crutches to walk across his high school stage to receive his diploma. He continued his education at OU pursuing a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He was a member of Student Activities Force and a somewhat member of the Math Club. He was a somewhat member because he only joined to compete in the annual Mr. Brave pageant and reclaim the title that should have been his the previous year he was in the runner-up position. In 2004, he earned the Mr. Brave title making that his favorite memory from OU.
His time at OU was up and down as he would call it. The limited handicap accessibility around campus made all of his business classes, which are usually held in the Administration Building, move to other locations. He felt as though everyone looked at him and it made him stand out, but he never heard it from the other students. He said everyone on campus was very nice and even now remembers who he is and his dream of bodybuilding.
When it came time to graduate from OU, he once again was determined to walk across the stage to collect his diploma like everyone else. He trained intensely and walked across the Chapel stage with no assistance or forearm crutches.
"It meant everything to me. I took what people said was the impossible and made it a reality. It was the end to a chapter," Nick said.
Nick currently trains everyday at the Ottawa Nautilus following a strict diet of egg whites, oatmeal, grilled chicken, brown rice and protein shakes everyday. He competes in an average of six bodybuilding competitions per year all across the country. He is a certified fitness consultant and a specialist in performance nutrition answering questions from anyone who asks. He is the president and owner of Wheelchair Bodybuilding and its major promoter. He is working on his second Unleash the Beast video where he is on an incline machine pressing 745 lbs. for six reps.
His goal after graduation was to start his own gym. Even though he is able to do so, he wants to wait until he takes wheelchair bodybuilding to the next level. Nick is currently working with Olympia's president to make wheelchair bodybuilding a division of the highest and most prestigious bodybuilding competition.
"Most people dream about this, but I actually pursued it. Go full force with what you believe and it will eventually happen," Nick said.
Nick trains on the elliptical machine and does as much as he can to rehabilitate his lower body, but focuses on what he can do and doesn't really like to think about the 'what ifs' in his life.
Update: View Nick Scott Wheelchair Bodybuilder Video