Whoa, brother, that's some heavy stuff you've been through, and I can truly relate to the risks involved in competitive sports. When I was just 21 years old, I had a life-altering experience. I took a nasty fall off a cliff, plummeting about 6 meters down and landing on top of a stone, right on my lower back. To make matters worse, my enduro bike came crashing down on me too. It was a free fall that left me unable to walk for a grueling 11 months.
You see, I've had my fair share of setbacks as well. By this point I was even a part of the boxing national team, but I had to put that on hold. I adamantly refused to undergo any surgeries, though. And then, one day, I said to myself, "Fuck it, man, I want to fight in the CA Amateur championship." Just one week later, I stepped foot back in the gym, determined as ever. Guess what? I ended up securing second place in the championship. Unfortunately, my gold medal got stolen (corruption in sport), but that's beside the point. The important thing was that I had gained a profound understanding of the control I possessed over my body and mind.
Sure, my back still gives me trouble from time to time, and I'll end up spending a couple of weeks in bed dealing with the pain. But you know what? Now I embrace those moments. I'm 40 years old now, and I've learned to appreciate the downtime. It's all part of the journey, brother. Life throws challenges at us, but it's how we rise above them that truly defines us. Stay strong, my friend.
