(Picture: @stanphotography1/Caters News)

Lee Liston is, by all definition, absolutely ripped.

He’s also quite small, standing at 3ft 11.

Despite trolls telling him someone with dwarfism can’t lift weights, Lee is training for his first bodybuilding competition in April. He can’t wait to show everyone what he can do.

Lee, from Utah, began training at the gym one year ago, and now goes six times a week.

He says he’s become addicted to building his muscles.

‘I don’t go to the gym for an ego boost, it’s more for motivation and a sense of belonging,’ says Lee.

‘Anywhere other than the gym, I’m seen an a little person, but when I’m in the gym I’m respected because of my muscles – I’m seen as an equal.

‘I feel more on the level of others around me, when people stare it’s not because I’m different, they stare because I have muscles.

‘I’m feeling pretty good about my up-and-coming competition – it’s pretty exciting.

‘I’m only nervous about making sure I get lean enough while maintaining muscle!’

(Picture: Caters News)

As part of his training, Lee bulked up for three months by eating 1,855 calories per day as well as 104g of protein.

Originally he started to train to audition for Dwayne Johnson’s show Titan Games, but he didn’t make it. That didn’t stop him, though.

Lee said: ‘I think the biggest change is that I actually count the calories and macro-nutrients that I put into my body, so being more self aware is awesome.

‘I used to overeat a lot and not really think about what I was putting in my body – saying that I still allow myself a treat from time, to time.

‘My life is basically just eat, gym, sleep, repeat!’

That training would be challenging for anyone, but it’s especially tough for Lee as he has achondroplasia, a type of dwarfism that affects his bones.

(Picture: @stanphotography1/Caters News)

Bodybuilding has given him a passion, and a place where he’s accepted for who he is.

He says: ‘When I was younger I remember running into my dad’s room crying and yelling, “I hate being little, I don’t look like other kids, all they do is stare and call me a midget!”

‘But I’ve come to embrace my size, which has always been a challenge; there have been days that I wake up wishing I wasn’t little but I think my confidence grew over time.

(Picture: Caters News)

‘Once I found out who I was, what I wanted, and what I could do, the rest became noise.

‘My biggest issue in the gym is my range of motion as I have shorter limbs than others, but some people think that’s a perk as I don’t have to push the bar up very high.

‘Luckily, my family and friends have been super supportive about all this – a friend of mine works in the fitness industry and thinks I’ll go far.

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‘Parents of kids with dwarfism have asked me advice on how to give their child confidence because they weren’t prepared to have a child with achondroplasia like me.

‘It’s so cool that I can be an advocate and ambassador for it.’

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