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Famed Mountain Biker’s Road to Recovery

This famed mountain biker was on top of his game when a crash nearly left him paralyzed. Now, Paul Basagoitia is looking to use his journey to recovery to help others with spinal cord injuries.

A ride to recovery

Paul Basagoitia was one of the world’s top mountain riders. But in 2015, while competing, he suffered a devastating crash and a spinal cord injury. Determined to walk again, Paul embarked on a 9 month-long recovery.

Recovery from spinal cord injury

“I was the youngest kid on the block and my next-door neighbor was a teenager and he would always build ramps in front of his house. … my mom bought me a bike at the bike shop and never I never got off that they never since. I was told I was never going to walk again. The first year I had really not too much movement from the waist down. Here I am living my worst nightmare. It was one of the biggest challenges I ever had in my life. When I got to be able to move my right leg for the first time, I knew there was some sort of hope to be able to maybe regain some movement, sensation, and maybe to be able to walk again and to pedal a bike once, once again that I used to love doing. Believe or not, I enjoy riding bikes more now today than I ever had before. It's kind of weird because when you think about the situation, the bike causes this to happen to me, but at the same time, the bike brings so much joy to me.And you know, I love riding bikes. I actually ride a bike more today than I did prior to this injury. And I'm just so blessed to be able to pedal once again,” Paul Basagoitia tells Brut.

A tool of freedom

Basagoitia is now able to walk with a cane, and to ride on an electric mountain bike. Today, Basagoitia wants to use his experience to highlight the need for spinal cord injury research.

Brut.

12/27/2019 12:58 PM
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12 comments

  • Chaz B.
    01/01/2020 07:06

    That’s honestly so amazing bro he’s straight killing it 😂 really doubt I’ll ever be as good as him but I’m definitely giving it everything I got I’m going to be running soon it’s honestly so amazing definitely loving the Thrive life so much right now 💪💪😎

  • Stuart K.
    01/01/2020 02:17

    That would be awesome.

  • Hulett G.
    01/01/2020 00:44

    thats what happen when you play with FIRE !!!!!;

  • Jim B.
    12/31/2019 23:41

    Proud of you !

  • Jason J.
    12/31/2019 23:07

    Let’s Ban Bikes. It’s was clear as day. “The bike did this too me” With that said The Bike was clearly the problem and not the rider who rode it. 🤣🤣🤣

  • Tamas K.
    12/31/2019 22:41

    I bet he didn’t wear any body protections.

  • Jesse S.
    12/31/2019 20:31

    This was very nearly my story this year. I a very grateful to all of my friends and family who have helped me get through this.❤️😎👍🤘

  • Justin S.
    12/31/2019 17:42

    Absolutely incredible my brother!

  • Dean R.
    12/30/2019 22:52

    😎😎😎😎

  • Haji E.
    12/28/2019 23:49

    😯😯😯

  • Larry C.
    12/27/2019 15:52

    He is nuts.

  • Brut
    12/21/2019 02:35

    The documentary ‘Any One of Us’ chronicles @PaulBasMTB’s inspirational recovery, with comments from other spinal cord injury survivors about their own journeys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kKJdHMJJJU