Chatting and laughing outside the gym, three young men wait eagerly to start their third powerlifting session B次元官网网址� the main goal B次元官网网址� to get big muscles, they say.

The Langford CrossFit gym normally booms with the sound of music and crashing weights, it is unusually quiet on this Sunday afternoon.

Twins Scott and Neil Mauridis, 19, and Kyle Valad, 23, wait in silence for coach Ray Hodgkinson to begin the 1.5 hour weekly session in the gym lit only by the sun streaming through a window.

The athletes listen carefully to instructions but show apprehension when weights are added to the shiny, silver weightlifting bar.

As the volunteer coach adds a 15-pound plate on each side, their concern becomes vocal.

B次元官网网址淵ikes,B次元官网网址� says Kyle followed by, B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 scary,B次元官网网址� from Scott.

Scott approaches the bar slowly, hesitantly, crouches low, grips it with two hands and stands raising the weight to his waist, gently he lowers the bar to the ground and completes his first deadlift.

A wide grin illuminates his face as he walks away proudly.

While Kyle readies himself at the bar, Hodgkinson guides him through proper form. Keep your back flat and arms straight, he tells the young man. After three reps, Kyle, too, leaves the bar standing tall.

B次元官网网址淩ay is a cool, cool guy,B次元官网网址� says Scott, still smiling. Scott and Kyle love weight training. Neil, ScottB次元官网网址檚 twin, has been watching the two and with a little push from his mom, heB次元官网网址檚 ready to give it a try.

Neil is weak, recovering from a long illness, but with coaching from Hodgkinson, and encouragement from mom, who watches from the sidelines, he tries to lift the bar gently with his fingertips.

Neil struggles to lift the bar and only wants to use his fingertips. NeilB次元官网网址檚 mom asks Hodgkinson help Neil lift the 35-pound bar in an assisted deadlift.

His mom cheers for him,  and Neil walks away saying B次元官网网址渏ust one.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 walk away without a high-five,B次元官网网址� Hodgkinson says raising his hand.

Through the session, the three aspiring weightlifters learn several techniques, using barbells, dumbbells and kettle bells in hopes of gaining muscle.

The three young men began training with Special Olympics B.C.-Victoria 18 months ago. They all participate in track and field, floor hockey and basketball. Kyle qualified to compete in the B.C. Special Olympics for track and field and will run in the 200-metre sprint, in July.

B次元官网网址淪pecial Olympics is a really good program and it opens doors (to opportunities) for them that most people donB次元官网网址檛 get,B次元官网网址� says Caroline Mauridis, Scott and NeilB次元官网网址檚 mother and KyleB次元官网网址檚 caregiver. B次元官网网址淚n my family, we donB次元官网网址檛 close the door until they see that they canB次元官网网址檛 do something.B次元官网网址�

The proud mom and caregiver is very good at encouraging the young men to give things a try even when they are scared, she doesnB次元官网网址檛 take no for an answer.

B次元官网网址淭heir progress is pretty good with technique and form,B次元官网网址� Hodgkinson says. B次元官网网址淭oday we got up to 65 pounds and we started with an eight-pound trainer bar. ThatB次元官网网址檚 measurable progress (in three weeks).B次元官网网址�

The three athletes train with Hodgkinson in a 12-week pilot program, but Hodgkinson hopes the program will grow and develop. B次元官网网址淓ventually weB次元官网网址檒l be going to meets and going to other regions. These guys want to compete.B次元官网网址�

This is the first time Special Olympics powerlifiting has been offered in Greater Victoria and this short program was created to see if it could become an annual one.

The pilot program runs until June 16. At that point it will be assessed by Special Olympics B.C.- Victoria and may continue in the fall.

As Scott, Neil and Kyle learn to powerlift, Hodgkinson is learning from the experience as well.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e taught me patience. I have also learned to explain things simply,B次元官网网址� he says.

If the program is successful the athletes could compete in the 2016 regional powerlifting competition with the chance to qualify for provincials.

B次元官网网址淲e are starting this pilot project with three athletes. Ray is new to Special Olympics and we didnB次元官网网址檛 want him to get overwhelmed,B次元官网网址� says Bobby Debrone, manager, Special Olympics B.C. community development for Vancouver Island. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had interest in the past, but never had a coach or enough volunteers. This is only possible because Ray is volunteering his time and CrossFit Zone is donating the space.B次元官网网址�

When the request to add Special Olympics powerlifting in Victoria was made, Debrone turned to Hodgkinson, a former teammate from the Nanaimo Timbermen senior A lacrosse team.

B次元官网网址淚 knew was he was a CrossFit guy, so I thought IB次元官网网址檇 ask,B次元官网网址� Debrone says.

B次元官网网址淚 jumped at the opportunity, it was a no brainer,B次元官网网址� says Hodgkinson. B次元官网网址淚 had a sister who had Down syndrome.B次元官网网址�

HodgkinsonB次元官网网址檚 sister, Selina, died at 14 months old after complications from surgery.

B次元官网网址淚 always wanted to help kids with special needs. I wanted to set up a charity, but I was never established enough as a professional athlete,B次元官网网址� says Hodgkinson. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of cool all three of these guys have Down syndrome. I do this in my sisterB次元官网网址檚 memory.B次元官网网址�