Finding Strength

Anthony Monaco takes part in weightlifting and crossfit competitions, but that came only after he was diagnosed at the age of 19 with the rare, neuromuscular condition Friedreich’s ataxia. As the condition progressed, he had to give up on his plans of becoming at tattoo artist. Once he became reliant on a wheelchair, he began to withdraw from the world, not wanting people to see his disability on full display. That changed when he went with a friend on an extended cross-country trip that provided him with a new outlook on life. We spoke to Monaco about coming to terms with his diagnosis, how he was forced to abandon some dreams, and how he was able to find new ones to pursue.