A dangerous bike accident isn’t enough to keep Mike Shetler down.
His life changed dramatically during Labour Day weekend in 2013, when a violent accident left him in a coma for three weeks.
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When he woke up, it was clear he had a long road to recovery ahead of him: he had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury.
Since the wreck, Shetler suffers from ataxia, which includes the declining or full loss of motor functions.
“The smallest activity is a challenge, like brushing your teeth,” he said, adding he’s had to relearn many basic functions.
The founder of the Pointe-Claire Mansfield Athletic Centre is a long-distance triathlete who has competed in three Ironman events.
Now, he’s working to inspire people with disabilities to stay active.
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A year ago, he took up bike racing and placed second in two races, and first in one during a three-wheel para-cycling race in Granby.
“You just can’t give up, you have to stay positive,” he said.
His next objective?
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Trying to make the Canadian national para-cycling team and compete in a World Cup.