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AUSTRALIA'S top female BMX cyclist, Renee Junga, is practising wheel-stands in her wheelchair as part of her inspirational recovery from spinal injuries.
Junga broke two bones in her neck and two ribs, and fractured her sternum after crashing at the world mountain bike championships in New Zealand on August 22.
Despite having no feeling from her waist down, the 20-year-old has not given up hope of walking again and plans to join Australia's BMX team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
At Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital yesterday, in her first interview since the crash, Junga said: "Doing wheel-stands is part of my physio, to get around and up gutters. Usually the staff don't get you doing it for a few more weeks, but I started trying myself because I want to do it."
The Brisbane-based 2005 Australian Female BMX Cyclist of the Year was racing downhill on a dirt course at Rotorua when she crashed.
As the course dipped, Junga overshot the safety area, landed badly and cannoned head-first into the next rise.
"I was probably going 50 or 60km/h. As soon as I hit, I couldn't remember anything. I remember waking up in the ambo, or somewhere, not sure, a fair bit later. I realised I couldn't feel my legs.
"Then I passed out again. The pain was just incredible. I've never been through that much pain before."
After operating on Junga to fuse bones in her neck and insert a surgical rod to stabilise her spine, surgeons gave her little chance of using her legs again.
But Junga said the damage could have been worse, and she was determined to defy the odds.
"I'm glad I still have use of my arms. I'm still here breathing.
"The medical staff don't want to say if I will walk or not. I always have hope – hope for the best, prepare for the worst. People in wheelchairs can still get feeling back 10 years down the track."
Medical staff predict Junga's rehabilitation in hospital will take another three months. But her mother Sallie Howie hopes she will be home for Christmas, and says: "One way or another, we're going to Beijing."
Helping Junga achieve that goal are donations to the Renee Junga Appeal
Renee Junga Appeal
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Cheque - payable to
ACF - Renee Junga Appeal
C/- PO Box 7183
Bass Hill NSW 2197
Credit Card - (Mastercard, Visa, Bankcard)
by phone to CA (02) 9644 3002 or in writing by fax (02) 9644 3006 or e-mail (acf.info@cycling.org.au)
Direct Deposit (Commonwealth Bank)
BSB: 062 314
Account No: 1008 8234
Branch: Flemington Markets (Sydney, NSW)
(Please e-mail acf.info@cycling.org.au to advise of your contribution amount, time of deposit and contact details so we can record and respond to your valued support)
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Renee is in Room 5, Bed 18
Spinal Injuries Unit, Princes Alexandra Hospital, Ipswich Rd, Woolloongabba, Brisbane.
Beijing-bound: Injured cycling champion Renee Junga is determined to be at the 2008 Olympics, and is practising in her wheelchair with that goal in mind.
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