Freak accident prompts paralympian to walk again

For the Dutch paralympic athlete Monique van der Vorst it is the greatest of Christmas gifts, because for nearly half her life she was not able to walk. That was until a freak accident.

Double silver medalist in Beijing two years ago, she remarkably began to get movement in her legs after being hit by a sprint cyclist in training. Like a jump-lead, the crash sent spasms through her legs and set her body in motion again.

She said:’‘The sudden change of standing after being in a wheel chair, that feeling is indescribable because suddenly the whole world has a different perspective, everything is much lower and you feel much bigger. It is really very nice when you walk next to someone on the street to be able to look that person straight in the eyes. That feeling is indescribable.’‘

Now 26-years-old, Monique is starting to learn how to walk, and hopefully one day run, again but her impressive sports career has had to come to an end because she is no longer considered a paralympic competitor.

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