Iron will spurs on swimmer
Cairns’ Jonas Luetke (above) grabs life by the horns. He is striving towards completing tomorrow’s Magnetic Island to Townsville Swim to fundraise to buy a race chair. Luetke became a quadriplegic while skydiving about three years ago and is now determined to compete in Ironman events, but there is one thing stopping him: the $8000 he needs to buy a race chair.
CAIRNS’ Jonas Luetke grabs life by the horns.
He is striving towards completing tomorrow’s Magnetic Island to Townsville Swim to fundraise to buy a race chair.
Luetke became a quadriplegic while skydiving about three years ago and is now determined to compete in Ironman events, but there is one thing stopping him: the $8000 he needs to buy a race chair.
“I would not mind doing a triathlon or maybe an Ironman,” Luetke said. “I can train for the swimming now and I have a hand cycle coming but it is just about getting the racing chair now.
“Physically it is possible to do the Magnetic Island to Townsville Swim but it will be about keeping my body temperature up.”
Triathlete coach and former kickboxer Renee Ker will navigate Luetke by the sound of a whistle. He will complete the entire swim doing backstroke.
“He is a phenomenal person who still wants to take life by the horns,” Ker said. “Everything he does, his strength in his back and his shoulder is huge.”
Tomorrow’s Magnetic Island to Townsville Swim starts at 7.20am from Picnic Bay and first finishers are expected to reach The Strand by 9.20am.
Luetke is sponsored by Deluca Coffee, Ski & Fly, Kat’s Cane Bar, Euroscan Australia, Platinum Property Services Port Douglas, Sunshine Retreat PD, Homescape Port Douglas, Independence, World, Trinity Pools, Ability in Motion, James Downham, FNQ Custom Hearing Protection, TriMotivate and Aquashop in his pursuit of a race chair. If you are keen to give him a hand, email jonasluetke@googlemail.com