He has an advantage over his rivals.
A young man from Long Island, Louis Plumitallo, experienced a life-altering event after losing his leg due to a shooting just three months after graduating high school. Now, he stands as a champion bodybuilder, embodying the essence of turning adversity into achievement.
“The first time I visited the prosthetic store, I noticed many other young individuals overwhelmed by their circumstances, breaking down in despair,” said Plumitallo, 22, from Mount Sinai, in an interview with The Post. “I realized that I couldn’t let that be my story.”
Plumitallo’s life took a dramatic turn when he was 18. While with a friend who was showcasing a family member’s rifle, the gun was mistakenly aimed at him and discharged, resulting in the loss of his entire right leg.
“I didn’t even have a chance to react before the gun went off,” he recalled, reflecting on the injury that changed everything.
Following the incident, he had to leave Suffolk Community College and adapt to the difficulties of daily life, including tasks as simple as climbing stairs or getting in and out of a car.
“The gym became my sanctuary,” explained Plumitallo, who had previously excelled in hockey as a right wing and center at Ward Melville High School. “I was training for two hours daily.”
Ed Darcy, his trainer at Rocky Point’s Personal Fitness Club, stepped in as a mentor around six months post-accident, guiding Plumitallo through the adjustments required for both his new lifestyle and fitness goals.
“I didn’t attend therapy, but Ed was my go-to person for everything,” Plumitallo remarked.
“He motivated me to return to my normal life. I want to have a family someday, so I knew I had to get back in shape.”
The journey was undeniably tough at first, especially with the demands of weightlifting and working off the extra weight he had gained, which caused him “nightmarish” pain where the prosthetic leg met his skin near his hip.
“I’ve damaged quite a few parts on it because I lead an active lifestyle,” he admitted, noting that his gym companions recognized his strength and encouraged him to pursue bodybuilding.
By 2023, he had slimmed down to about 140 pounds, a significant drop from his usual 165, and was muscular enough to compete at the Bev Francis Atlantic States Championships.
In his first competition, Plumitallo faced off against athletes with two legs and managed to secure second place, winning the admiration of the audience in the process.
“You could hear the audience applaud more enthusiastically for me,” he noted. “They genuinely appreciated it.”
This June, he achieved a remarkable feat, clinching first place in the men’s physique juniors competition and second overall in men’s physique—demonstrating that his spirit was decidedly unbroken.
“It felt like a massive relief to get back to a sense of normalcy,” Plumitallo said, highlighting how he has made significant progress in reclaiming his ability to engage in various activities he loves.
An outdoor enthusiast, Plumitallo enjoys fishing for massive tuna, leaps backflips into water, swims unassisted, mountain bikes, and even resumed ice skating.
He gives credit to his advanced Bluetooth-enabled prosthetic leg, which offers varying settings for different activities—water, ice, and cycling, among others—for his incredible achievements.
“I’m looking into joining a men’s hockey league now,” shared the devoted Rangers fan. “Stepping onto the ice again was truly something special.”
<pMeanwhile, Plumitallo, who has been in a stable relationship since his accident, has also established a means to support himself independently.
He owns half of The Pest Paisan—Mosquito Guido extermination company, overseeing operations from western Suffolk to Nassau.
“I do it all, including working on ladders. I’m focused on expanding the business now, and I expect to compete again in about a year,” he remarked.
Nevertheless, Plumitallo remains committed to his fitness, regularly lifting weights and inspiring anyone he encounters.
“People often approach me and say, ‘I really wasn’t motivated to work out, but if you can do it, I certainly can too!’,” he reflected. “I’ve learned through this experience that mental resilience is just as crucial as physical strength.”
