After winning the gold medal in power lifting at the Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games at Harvard recently, it would have only been natural for Corey O'Keefe to take a break from training.

But two days later, O'Keefe was right back at it, lifting under the direction of Mark Ironfield at Powerfit Gym in Peabody.

The 23-year-old Danvers resident turned in the performance of his young life, lifting a combined total of 835 pounds in the three events (competitors are categorized by age and weight). O'Keefe deadlifted 310 pounds, benched 210 and squatted 315 — all personal bests in competition.

"He has deadlifted 330 pounds in the gym, benched 225 and squatted 325, but not in competition," said his father Larry, who has helped train his son.

"In November we want to put him into a regular meet in Wilmington to see how he handles the challenge. There will be some Special Olympians there, but he will be in the Open Class going against very good competition. I don't expect him to win, but I know he will do well because he has great form."

An athlete all his life, O'Keefe — who has Downs Syndrome — played in the Danvers Youth Hockey League from the time he was eight years old. He also was involved in youth baseball programs for many years and is also a fine golfer (22-handicap) who will compete in that event at the Special Olympics in August.

But with former Mr. Olympia (and current governor of California) Arnold Schwarzenegger as his idol, O'Keefe wanted to get into power lifting.

"I had no idea what it was all about, and it took a few years to find somebody to train him," said Larry O'Keefe. "Corey started with Jeff Silva, a national champion, and that was great. But after Jeff got married he didn't have the time, and I took over last year. Jeff gave me a lot of tips but he needed more."

Larry O'Keefe knew Ironfield from Powerfit and was aware that he had competed nationally. So he asked if he'd be willing to work with his son.

"Mark agreed to train him," said the edler O'Keefe, "and we couldn't have asked for two better guys. Mark and Jeff use different approaches, but Corey loves them both. And he's had great success."

His son agrees.

"I go to the gym three nights a week," Corey said. "I like to do all three (lifts) — squat, bench and deadlift; I really don't have any favorite.

"Jeff and Mark have both helped me so much. I love power lifting. It's fun."

Hard work pays off

O'Keefe works out three days a week at the gym, and Ironfield is impressed with his positive attitude and work ethic. He thinks O'Keefe has tremendous potential.

"I've been working with Corey for (over three months) now, and he's the greatest kid in the world," said Ironfield, who has worked at Powerfit for the past three years. "Larry and Gail (his mother) are wonderful people, and they treat him just like any other kid. They have done so much to raise money for Special Olympics and support Corey in everything he does.

"Corey had so much fun at the Summer Games and was up there dancing after a lift. He not only won gold, but he got Best Lifter, too. He is very serious about lifting and he gets so much enjoyment out of it that it's contagious. Everybody at the gym loves him."

Ironfield said O'Keefe's strength is in the squat, where he puts the bar on his back and comes straight up.

"My son, who is almost 11, is with me at the gym and sees what he does. I train Corey and give him tips, but honestly I get more out of this than he does," said Ironfield.

O'Keefe works at Rosewood Nursing Home in Peabody three days a week. On Mondays he volunteers at the Holten-Richmond Middle School in Danvers, where he usually works in the library.

Three years ago, he went to the first-ever National Special Olympics at Ames, Iowa and won four silver medals in power lifting, competing against people seven or eight years older than him. He is also a good track athlete in the shot put, 50 yard dash, and 4x400 relay Special Olympics competition.