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Amputee who lost his leg aged 19 claims first prize in modelling contest by dressing as one-legged PIRATE
Jonas Zimicki claimed first prize at a prestigious modelling competition after using his wooden leg as part of his costume
Super-fit amputee Jonas Zimicki claimed first prize in a fancy dress modelling contest - after dressing as a one-legged pirate.
Buff Jonas, 31, was born with a deformed right leg which had to be amputated, but he has since been offered a string of modelling jobs.
The gym instructor lost his leg aged 19, but turned to modelling and bodybuilding as an example to other disabled people.
His efforts were rewarded when he was crowned fitness modelling fancy dress champ at the Miami Pro UK Championships at his first attempt, complete with wooden leg.
Lithuanian-born Jonas was born with a deformed right leg and it was amputated when he was 19.
He said: 'What I did is fitness modelling rather than body building as it focuses very much on looking healthy and feeling healthy.
'I really enjoyed it. I didn’t know how the audience and other competitors would react to me but they were all really supportive and the comments were great.
'I've been approached by magazines and agencies who have never met an amputee doing what I am doing.
'It is really positive for me both as a person and as a businessman.
'I don't want to tell other people with similar issues like mine what to do with their lives, but I can go out and do something and hopefully that can provide some sort of inspiration.'
Jonas moved to Britain from Lithuania in 2004 and hoped to compete for his adoptive country after training alongside Jonny Peacock.
But he missed out on a place with Team GB and instead had to watch from his sofa.
He started work as a gym instructor in Cambridge and visited schools in the city to lend children tips and advice on how to keep fit.
A colleague then encouraged him to train for fitness modelling and gave him tips on nutrition and exercises.
He entered the under 75kg category in the Miami Pro UK Championships and finished fourth out of more than 40 competitors overall.
Jonas, of Cambridge, added: 'I took up fitness modelling off the back of devastating disappointment when I failed to make team GB at the Paralympics last year.
'I had been training with Jonny Peacock at Lea Valley in the 100 metre sprint throughout 2011 and 2012 but wasn’t successful. I didn’t know what to do next.'
