A local weightlifter is set for the biggest challenge of his career after being invited to face the world’s best.

Twenty-six-year-old Lloyd Davies from Manorbier lost part of his sight six years ago, but he is now set to challenge for glory at the Arnold Amateur strongman classic in Columbus, Ohio, USA on March 6.

The Arnold is a sport venture set up by Arnold Schwarzenegger and has grown over the years, with Arnold competitions also in South America, Africa and Australia.

As of next year, there is going to be an Arnold UK for the very first time, making it one of the biggest weightlifting competitions in the world.

Lloyd said that he had received a message in January of this year from Arnar Mar Jonsson, founder of Disabled Strongman, who invited him over.

Now, the 26-year-old is realising his dream to compete on the world stage.

“This is the biggest opportunity I’ve had within sport. I said to my mate Louie who comes to every competition with me that I wanted to get invited to that one because that’s the big one to get invited to, so it was a bit of an unreal feeling when I got the invite”, explained Lloyd.

“It’s a big thing going to a competition that’s so well known, not just in this country, but across the world, and to compete internationally is going to be an incredible experience.

“It’s a big foot in the door for me to prove to myself and prove to other people that’s where I belong, that’s the level I want to be at, that’s the level I deserve to be at.”

Lloyd has previously competed in Pembrokeshire’s Strongest Disabled Man twice, England’s Strongest Disabled Man and Britain’s Strongest Disabled Man.

Following the Arnold Classic, Lloyd plans to take part in Britain’s Disabled Strongman which takes place in Bristol in May.

He also plans to compete in Iceland in June, before returning to?America to compete in the Monsters World Championship which is due to be held in Obetz, Ohio, in July.

Additionally, Lloyd also hopes to take part in the World’s Strongest Disabled Man in Germany in August.

With Lloyd competing in a big competition, it will be down to Louie to assist him.

“Louie will have to lean me over to the bar, once I get to the bar I will strap myself in.

“When I finish, Louie will have to take me back to the athletes area from the bar,

“There’s a lot of stuff, with people competing in able body competitions they just crack on,” explained Lloyd.

“In the competitions, there’s stuff I can’t do with my eyesight condition.

“There’s going to be a lot of bright lights, lots of loud noises and loud music.”

Lloyd has arguably come a long way since his journey started three years ago when he met Eddie Hall who won the World’s Strongest Man in 2017.

Reflecting on this, Lloyd said: “When I look back at how I’ve performed, I’ve come a long way without realising it.

“I think it’s down to Louie to remind me how far I’ve come when I get frustrated when I have a rubbish training day, he reminds that those rubbish days where probably my best days last year.

“Everyone has to have bad days to have stuff to improve on, stuff to criticise, stuff to know what to change.”

Lloyd admitted that he had doubts last year over far he could go, but said the failures of 2019 have helped him to go further.

“Last year I didn’t do well at Britain’s Strongest Disabled Man in my opinion, there’s stuff I could have done better in the lead up, there’s stuff I could have done better on the day.

“Afterwards I felt really rubbish, really frustrated at myself, I think it took the competition for me to realise just how much needed to be changed,” Lloyd added, speaking very honestly.

“I doubted whether I belonged with the athletes, whether I was going to be competitive.

“I’ve got this gym sponsoring me, giving me free membership and the people that I train with.

"But I always look at the people at the top and think how am I going to catch them, how am I going to be competitive with them.

“But I’ve come so strong with all the help and support with the people around me.

“It’s only the last few weeks that I’ve realised that’s the level I want to be at, that’s the level I’m going to get to.”

With Lloyd overcoming huge adversities since losing part of his sight, it would be very easy for the athlete to be seen as a role model for other people who are going through the same situation.

However, Lloyd was cautious when asked if he could inspire other people.

“People tell me how well I’ve done since losing my sight, but I don’t see it as that at times, I just think what else was I supposed to do, but then realise how much has changed in the last six years, there’s a lot of things that I haven’t been able to do, but I’ve kept my head with stuff.

“I think by me competing in the way that I’m competing and if I’m being perceived as somebody who can get through stuff inspires somebody else do something positive after something detrimental has happened, then I can only see it as a good thing.”After three years of hard work competing Tenby Tourers have become the first company to sponsor Lloyd.Tenby Tourers general manager, Gofer Jones said: “I’ve know Lloyd for about 14 years, it’s a hell of an achievement to be in the position that is now. “He’s a local boy, I think he deserves it, it’s not just this it’s everything else he’s got going on this year. To go to America and compete is just incredible“He’s come from nothing, I’m amazed no one else has got behind him. “It’s a good opportunity, I think he’s gone a long way, you’ve got to be invited to that competition and I think he’s achieved quite a lot. That’s why we are backing him.”Lloyd added: “I’ve got a lot of people who have supported me throughout this journey and I’ve got Tenby Tourers coming on board with sponsorship. “Gofer coming forward with sponsorship with Tenby Tourers has been huge. “A lot of people in the gym who have started now that I’ve trained with that have helped me and pushed me.“I’m lucky to have such good facilities here, (The dungeon) it’s been here longer than most people know, it’s a really nice positive environment to train at.”You can follow Lloyd Davies’s progress via his Instragram page @blindlloydstrongman and on Tenby Tourer's Facebook page