WHEELCHAIR warriors Mike Pyke and Dave Smith have thrown down a challenge to rugby's Super League strong men.

Fresh from their latest medal-winning exploits in the national championships, the sporting duo would love to pit their strength against their RL heroes from Wigan.

"Bring 'em on -- let's see who's strongest, we'll have a laugh," says Hindsford-based Mike, who is proud of being a Leyther but unashamed at being, like Dave, an avid Wigan RL fan.

He and big pal Dave, from Tyldesley, won gold medals in the recent UK bench press championships at Swansea.

Mike, 33, and Dave, 34, both suffer from spina bifida -- but that hasn't dampened their sporting spirit.

They met as kids 25 years ago when both received Magpie bikes presented by fund-raisers from the White Lion pub in Leigh town centre.

Life has never been easy for the powerlifting pair but sheer determination, courage and ability has taken them to the top.

They've travelled extensively representing Great Britain and Dave has notched up some great achievements considering he's only been lifting competitively for two years.

"I used to do wheelchair marathons before that," explained Dave, a part-time schedules assistant with the Ring and Ride service.

Dave took up wheelchair racing from inspirational Mike and his talent has taken him to last year's national championship as well as to the USA, Holland and Belgium.

Mike admits that sport "is my life".

You name it, he's done it, and aims to keep on doing so.

Weightlifting, wheelchair racing, tennis and basketball are all in his repertoire.

He's competed several times in the USA as well as in Holland, Belgium and Hungary. And he's just returned from Spain where he took a silver in the Spanish Open.

Mike admitted he was unable to get near the performance of the winner from the United Arab Emirates.

"He was a paraplegic and built like the proverbial... He pressed 200 kilos," smiled Mike, who was competing against the awesome Arab in the 82 kilos bodyweight class.

As a guide the world's strongest wheelchair competitor can press 237 kilos and the 48 kilos supremo can hoist four times his own bodyweight!

Dave and Mike train three times a week at The Flex Gym in Leigh and benefit from the coaching of Gary Smith from Manchester Road, Leigh.

In the gym they have lifted personal bests of within 10 kilos of each other with Mike ahead on 150 kilos (330lbs), "but that's only because I've been at it longer" says Mike, who is backed by Keith Stacey at Hire and Hire, and Millicans of Wigan.

Next year will be a busy time for them with two scheduled trips to the USA, but the big goal for both is Olympics 2004.

"It's in Athens and that must be every athlete's dream to compete at the place where it all started," smile Mike.

Let's hope they'll both be there waving the British flag.