Courage Award: Runner-up
By Eric Todd
Runner-up in the Courage category: Joe Garcia
This award is described as such:
This goes to an individual who shows the courage to overcome an obstacle in order to return to competition. This may be a comeback from an injury, or just having to deal with difficult personal issues but still shows the courage to compete in the USAWA.
For the second year in a row, the runner-up is Joe Garcia. He won last year for having survived a near death experience with covid, and wins this year by way of his long recovery and return to the platform. We has gone from being on a ventilator in a hospital bed, to doing pushups on his knees and walking around the house on oxygen, back to lifting, and ultimately making it to the national championship meet. The road was a long one, and it took a great amount of courage to complete that journey. Congrats Joe! Well deserved!