Ben Tudhope
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In Daniel Bos’s world, Para powerlifting and bodybuilding enjoy a mutually beneficial co-existence. Oh, just for good measure, add acting to the mix.
In 2026, Bos performed in the television series Spartacus: The House of Ashur, depicting gladiator Balbus. It was a case of throwing caution to the wind, given his lack of acting experience, similarly to his rise in Para powerlifting. Bos was spotted by the Head Coach of Paralympics Australia’s Powerlifting High Performance Program, Simon Bergner, who messaged him out of the blue and said, “Hey, want to come see what we’re about?”
Defying the limitations of his short stature, Bos recognised the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his father Willem, who represented Australia in Para powerlifting at the 1996 Atlanta Games and remains his “best mate and biggest supporter.”
“I was always around training and grew up watching the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jean-Claude Van Damme,” Bos said. “I think I was probably always meant to do this.
“I never tried to follow in my dad’s footsteps, we just both naturally gravitated towards the same kind thing.
“I was never forced but maybe influenced a bit having grown up around it, but I discovered all this on my own and found out what worked out for me and where I wanted to go on my own.”
It shows that hard work does pay off if you continue to apply yourself.
Bos is now one of Australia’s fastest rising talents in the power sport. He burst onto the scene with an Australian record of 151 kilograms in the up to 54 kg class, set at the Melbourne Grand Prix in December 2025. At the 2026 Commonwealth Games he lifted 147 kilograms, improving on his 145 kilogram best at the Asia-Oceania Championships.
“I was at 140 for ages but just kept putting in the work and was able to finally break through which was awesome,” he said.
“It shows that hard work does pay off if you continue to apply yourself.”
Bos’s continual improvement, access to expert coaching and access to regular competition have him now firmly fixed on qualifying for the Australian Paralympic Team for LA28. However, his pursuit of perfection in Para powerlifting will not stand in the way of his great passion for bodybuilding.
“I’m a bodybuilder by trade, as I like to say,” he said.
“But strength training has always fed into my physique goals and vice versa.
“You can’t stay shredded all year, so having something else to chase, like a lifting number instead of a measurement, is helping to keep me very motivated.”
Bos is an athlete to watch, but his impact more broadly cannot be overstated. Recently, on one of his Instagram posts to his 17,000 followers, one commenter wrote: “I also have dwarfism and a disability. At a time when I didn’t know what to do with my life, I saw you and felt inspired. You motivated me to believe in myself and keep moving forward. Thank you for being an inspiration.”
