THREE silver medals and a bronze were the haul of Otley power lifter Lee Lawson at the Special Olympic Euro and Eurasian Games in Livingstone, Scotland.

Lee was disappointed not to get gold but his step father John Yeadon said: "We were well pleased with what he did. He was up against a very powerful man from Poland in Krystoff Lis and Lee had had to move up a class as he was half a kilo overweight.

"Krystoff was a very powerful man but I think he has reached his peak whereas Lee is still improving so he will hopefully get the gold next time."

Lee took the overall silver and silvers in the squat with a lift of 120k and in the bench press with a lift of 67k. He gained his bronze in the dead lift.

John said: " Lee was beating Krytstoff Lis in the squats right up to the final lift when Krystoff just added an extra 5k. In the dead lift Krystoff opened with 175k and Lee's usual is around 140. Krystoff was a big, powerful man and showed what the limits are in this heavier class."

Lee won the Scottish Championship in Livingstone back in April. The 28 year-old, who has Downs Syndrome, has his sights set on the World Games to be held in China in 2007.

Lee trains with the Yorkshire and Humberside powerlifting team in the unusual surroundings of Armley Prison. He is also grateful to the Otley fitness club Club Energy for allowing him use of their facilities.

Lee would need help with funding if he achieves his ambition of being selected to represent his country in the World Games in China.

Lee takes part in three different power lifting disciplines. He has a best deep knee squat lift of 125 kilos, a best bench press lift of 80 kilos and a best dead weight lift of 150 kilos.

Lee won the British Championship title last November after lifting the English Championship title last June. He will retain those titles as due to the European Games there will be no domestic championships this year.

In March 2002 Lee scooped the gold medal in a national competition - just two years after taking up the sport.

Lee soon made his mark in the sport after starting out back in 1999. Just 15 months after taking up the sport he scooped the bronze medal at the National Powerlifting Championships for people with learning disabilities.

John and Lee's mum Linda have seen Lee make great strides, both in the sport and as a person. He originally entered the sporting arena in the gymnastics dance routine, which he did at the special Olympics. He then joined the Yorkshire and Humberside Powerlifting squad and his training there has seen him move up levels. Lee, who lives in The Crescent, Otley, has entered many championships winning a host of medals.

Lee will be back in training in a couple of weeks time as he prepares for the Welsh Open in September and his defiant message is that he is going for gold.