Using sport to set new life goals
A workplace accident that left Jesse Apiti paralysed has set him on a new path with new goals.
Just over three months after the accident, he’s ticked one off: completing his first half marathon.
The 20-year-old Hamilton man was injured on October 26 in a building accident. He was standing up building frames and two toppled back down on to him, paralysing him from the waist down. He completed his rehabilitation in Auckland on January 5. On Sunday, he finished his first half marathon - Round the Bays in Wellington - on a hand bike. He completed the 21km in 1 hour 20 minutes.
‘‘I just want to give everything I can a go. I have been on the bike three times - the first two times were little piddly go-arounds and then the third one I did 14km, then straight into the 21km. I felt pretty good. The arms were pretty tired, but I felt all right. My hands felt like they were cramping up.’’
Apiti has his eye on possibly improving his time in a race in Hamilton next month. He was never a runner when he was able-bodied, but did enjoy his sports, like touch rugby.
His accident has forced him to look at things differently. He now dreams of being a Paralympian.