CrossFit competitor defies odds after a motorcycle accident left him in wheelchair
My legs felt like they no longer belonged to my body. I could not move them or feel any cold beneath my navel. I seemed to be paralyzed. People started gathering around, urging me not to close my eyes. All I wanted to do was to shut them; to either die or wake up from this nightmare. That was two years ago.
- 1 year ago
June 7, 2023
Since his motorcycle accident, Andrés began training and competing in CrossFit. He participated to various events, such as the Freedom Battle tournament, and aims to compete globally. | Photo courtesy of Andrés Martinez
SAN FERNANDO, Argentina — On a rainy afternoon, I hopped on my motorcycle, fresh out of the shop, and drove through the wet streets of San Fernando. The motorcycle was acting strangely and when I attempted to break at a stop light, I lost control. A chill ran down my spine and my heart began to pound out of my chest as the motorcycle refused to slow down, no matter what I tried. I veered the handlebars and ended up on the opposite side of the street.
In less than a second, I felt myself flying through the air and collided with a curb and a car. The car that hit me fled the scene. Through the entire ordeal, I never lost consciousness and remained lucid. Terrified and in agonizing pain, I felt my back shatter, my spinal cord break, and my ribs crack.
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In the blink of an eye, life ended as I knew it
I kept my eyes open the entire time, taking in my surroundings. As I glanced to the side of the road, I saw my boxing gloves lying on the ground. My legs felt like they no longer belonged to my body. I could not move them or feel any cold beneath my navel. I seemed to be paralyzed.
People started gathering around, urging me not to close my eyes. All I wanted to do was to shut them; to either die or wake up from this nightmare. That was two years ago. I spent over two months in a rehabilitation center and the news I received felt disheartening. “You will need a catheter for the rest of your life,” they told me. “You will always wear diapers and you will never walk again.” I struggled to accept their words.
On the verge of become a professional boxer, the accident left me with no control over my body and the prognosis of spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair. Back home, I continued with outpatient rehab. The two-hour ambulance ride there and the two-hour session felt pointless. They treated me like a disabled person with no hope for regaining independence. Facing a dead end, I plunged into depression, waking up every day with no appetite and no motivation.
From beaten and discouraged to training in CrossFit
During the difficult days, my mind felt constantly active, and I longed to sleep. Images of the accident consuming me as tears fell from my eyes all night long. Discouraged, I quit rehab. Completely beaten for the first time in my life, I held onto one thing. I remembered my old kickboxing trainer visiting me in the hospital after my accident.
He invited me to his gym for CrossFit once I got discharged. Intrigued, I decided to give it a try. Though my mom worried that training in a wheelchair could worsen my condition, I knew sports was my lifeline. I needed a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Today, I left weights, climb high ropes, and exercise constantly. When I push my limits, I feel a tinge of normalcy.
The doctors said I would never gain control of my bowels. Like so many challenges in my life, my determination defied the odds. Sometimes, if I go really hard in training, I might experience a minor loss of control, but I don’t wear diapers and I never will. I use a stroller but it can only handle my bodyweight, so a girl lent me her sports chair, which she uses for basketball. I sometimes use it to train with a goal to get my own equipment and begin competing on a global level.
Sports gave me my life back
Throughout my life, I never quite fit in with groups. As a child, I endured a great deal of bullying. Sports became a passion of mine, and I excelled. Training in combat sports gave me a way to defend myself and I focused both boxing and kickboxing. As I grew physically and gained knowledge in combat sports, fewer people bothered me. I also learned how to communicate and resolve conflicts peacefully. As I got older, I grew in understanding with the people around me and developed great rapport with my neighbors. Then the accident happened.
Taking on CrossFit gave me my life back. Every day now, I wake up and dedicate hours to training. I teach boxing classes and provide massages to relax my clients’ muscles. By pushing my own limits, I found the motivation I needed to move forward. I no longer look back. For a long time, I lived in constant regret, anger, and doubt. It felt impossible to remain optimistic. Today, I live a beautiful life, surpassing the expectations of my initial diagnosis. As I navigate the streets in my wheelchair, nothing can knock me down. When I encounter a sidewalk in poor condition, I see an adventure, enacting daring maneuvers to cross in style.
My body feels incredibly strong. I can rise out of my seat and push myself to stand for as long as possible; cautiously attempting to walk again. Even conduct classes while standing. This intense flame burning inside helps me push beyond my comfort zone. I must keep the flame alive while being careful not to get burned. People count on me today. If I fall, they fall. So, no matter what comes my way, I stand my ground and refuse to surrender.
