"Life as we know it is far more fragile than most of us like to admit. The lives we lead and the bodies we live in are things we rarely think about-day in and day out, they become almost as imperceptible as life itself. But what happens when the unchangeable changes? For Tommy Wilkinson, what began as a routine session on a familiar jump quickly became one of those life-altering moments."
"In 2013, Tommy faced the unthinkable. After a collision with a tree, he suffered a severe spinal cord injury that left his right arm paralyzed. In an instant, Tommy's world was flipped upside down, and he faced a new reality: a life with only one functional arm. Reborn is the story of one man's resilience in the face of extreme adversity and his triumphant journey back to the sport he loves. Rather than giving up, Tommy adapted. He re-learned to ride with one arm-and while the challenges he faces on the bike today may be different than in the past, each pedal stroke is now a testament to his grit and unwaivering passion for riding. Tommy not only speaks to working through the unique challenges we all face, but is the living embodiment of what he preaches."
"In the high-stakes world of mountain biking, where strength and balance are everything, Tommy Wilkinson's comeback is nothing short of remarkable. Learning to ride with one arm and still taking on trails is equally impressive as it is inspirational. But perhaps the most powerful part of Tommy's story is his perspective: instead of longing for the life he lost, he's embraced the life he has. "I think I've got a pretty awesome life, and that's not because of my arm, but neither is it in spite of my arm." Tommy said."
Tommy Wilkinson suffered a severe spinal cord injury in 2013 after a collision with a tree that left his right arm paralyzed and forced him into life with only one functional arm. He relearned mountain biking using one arm, adapting technique, balance, and persistence to continue riding challenging trails. Each ride represents resilience, grit, and enduring passion for the sport. He embraces his changed life rather than mourning the past, finding contentment and framing the arm as neither defining nor diminishing his life. His return reframes what it means to be a rider and celebrates the gift of being on a bike.
Read at BikeMag
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]