Daniel Hester might be quiet on the surface, but he’s making plenty of noise in a different way.

The Forsyth County resident was recently selected to represent the United States at next summer’s Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece.

A graduate of Forsyth Central, the 24-year-old Hester has been lifting weights competitively for about four years with his coaches, Mark Keesee and Chris Jarvis.

Keesee is a local coach and athlete coordinator for the Special Olympics, which provides athletic opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.

Keesee saw Hester playing softball in the Miracle League, and asked him if he was interested in weightlifting.

“He’s a big guy. He looked like he was a guy who could probably work out,” Keesee said with a laugh.

Since then, Hester has continued to progress, to the point that Keesee — one of four coaches for the US powerlifting team — saw fit to nominate him for one of Georgia’s two slots on the team. In all, 17 lifters will represent the United States at the games.

“Just the way he’s progressed from day one to now [has impressed me]. The amount of weight that he’s gone up. He sets personal goals and he’s worked hard, harder probably than any weight lifter that I’ve coached in Forsyth County,” Keesee said.

Hester has recorded a 330-lb. squat, 250-lb. bench press and 424-lb. deadlift during meets.

Hester is an active guy. He said he enjoys being around other people during lift practice and meets, and also plays golf and has participated in bowling through the Miracle League. In addition, he’s a big NASCAR fan with a room full of Jeff Gordon memorabilia.

Still, his appointment to the US powerlifting team is a new experience for him. He’s never even been on a plane, much less to Europe.

In March, Hester and Keesee will head to San Diego for a three-day weekend to meet with the other coaches and lifters on the team. The World Summer Games will take place in June.

Daniel’s parents, Buster and Anita Hester, will be making the trip to Greece as well. Still, Anita Hester admits she’s a little nervous at the prospect of being separated from her son during the trip.

“Unfortunately, the athletes and coaches will be on a totally separate flight from Mom and Dad, so that’ll prove to be interesting, I’m sure. ... I’ve already told him ‘You stick to Mark like glue,’” she said with a laugh.

Keesee visited Athens over Memorial Day weekend for preliminary test games. He said the activities, combined with new foods and sightseeing, will make for an exciting experience for the coaches and athletes.

“It’s going to be a jam packed three weeks up there. ... It’s going to be a big event,” he said.