“Surely many who have already caught on, but for those who haven’t, I crashed in training and am paralyzed” That’s what Elliot Finnestrand (19) wrote in the post he published on Instagram on 2 October 2022. – I had a blast the motorcycle and was thrown forward. So I just flew without the bike for 30 meters. I rolled around many times and hit my neck and legs over and over. Then, when I finally reached the platform, I couldn’t get up. Elliot says he tried hitting the side of one leg with his hand several times to get it to work. – It didn’t hurt, because I didn’t feel anything. Elliot’s back was broken. In several places. LONG DAYS: Elliot was operated on at Ullevål hospital immediately after the accident, and then transferred to Sunnaas for training. Following in his older brother’s footsteps, Elliot grew up in Tromsø, and already at the age of five began to take an interest in motors. With both a father and an older brother who raced cross country, it was almost obvious that this was the sport that the youngest should also start with. When he was finally about to start upper secondary school, he applied, as his older brother had done a few years earlier, to the only school in Norway that offers motocross, Norges Toppidrettsgymnas (NTG) in Bærum. On the day of the accident, Elliot had just started his second year at school. – It was a completely normal day. I was going to take a jump I had taken hundreds of times before. The 17-year-old had to spend half a year in hospital. – The mental process was very difficult. The heaviest thing I’ve been through in my entire life. DONE: – If I can ever walk again, I’m not going to get on the motorcycle, says Elliot. Photo: Private friend who knew advice At NTG, Elliot and the rest of the motocross class had always had joint lessons with the students in the other sports. When Nilas Goa Diab (19), who was both Elliot’s friend and roommate, and who went sailing, heard about the accident, he gradually got an idea. – I remember that Nilas came to visit four or five months into my hospital stay, and asked if I would like to try sailing. He knew the school had a boat that was adapted for para athletes, says Elliot. – I didn’t know much about sailing. All I had heard was from the people I went to class with, which was only told in class when we weren’t doing school. – And despite that, Elliot answered “yes” right away, says Nilas. MORE THAN JUST PARTNERS: Although the atmosphere on the boat can be tense at times, the guys don’t become friends: – What happens on the boat, stays on the boat, says Nilas. Photo: Astri Øverdal / news One of the first trips he had, it was very windy. Elliot says he was scared. – That’s when I realized that you could get adrenaline in that sport here too, laughs Elliot. – I was afraid that the boat would capsize, because I didn’t know if I could still swim after I became paralyzed. When the sailing coach at the school heard that, he took Elliot into the pool. He started with a few careful swims with a life jacket on, but it only took a couple of minutes before he was swimming like before the accident. – A huge surprise Along with the feeling in his legs, Elliot’s winning instinct also disappeared after the accident. Fortunately, it came back. Along with the sailing. – That I would win the WC in parasailing is perhaps the last thing I would have imagined two years ago, says Elliot. Just under two weeks ago, together with Nilas as a partner in the boat, he won WC gold in parasailing in England. And that after only six weeks of hard training. – It was absolutely incredible, says Elliot. TEMU MEDAL: The real medal is on its way in the post, so until further notice the guys are carrying a plastic medal in their pockets. Photo: Astri Øverdal / news IMPRESSED: Coach for sailing at NTG, Frank Kirkeland, did not think Elliot would say yes when he was asked to be in training after the accident. – He has taken with him what he has learned from motocross to sailing, and it was a good match. Photo: Astri Øverdal / news SOFT CAKE IN THE CANTEEN: At school, the boys were treated to cake and speeches by teachers and fellow students. A lunch worthy of two WC winners. Photo: Astri Øverdal / news – We didn’t exactly come in with a favorite stamp, and didn’t expect to do particularly well, explains Nilas. – We had a training regatta on one of the first days, and then we finished last. So it didn’t look too bright, adds Elliot. The duo says that the last race was decisive. They were in fifth place at the top, and were going down to the finish when things suddenly turned around, and they were suddenly first. They won ahead of second place by 30 centimeters and one point. – So it was simply a huge surprise, says Nilas and smiles. Betting further Elliot is clear about what the plan is next. He will go on to win championships in sailing. But it will be without Nilas. He is going to the military. – I have to find a partner who is as willing to bet as I am, says Elliot. Although the support from Nilas, friends and the coaches at NTG has been important, he is also clear that he would not have been where he is today without inner motivation as an important factor. – If I had accepted that I have become paralyzed, I would not have tried new things, such as sailing. And if I hadn’t tried sailing, I also wouldn’t have found out that I think it’s fun, and in the end won the WC. Despite the spinal cord injury he suffered in the accident, Elliot has not given up hope that he will one day be able to walk on his feet again. – I haven’t taken the wheelchair completely to myself. There are several doctors who say it won’t happen, but I hope and believe that I will go again. Here it runs over for the Belgian cyclist 00:28 Here it almost goes horribly wrong for the national team runner 00:43 Attempting an incredible death record 00:48 Incredible performance: Scored from kick-off in two games in a row 01:03 Show more Published 20.10.2024 , at 09.59
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Elliot Finnestrand was paralyzed after a motocross accident – now he is world champion in sailing – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
