Athlete's daredevil wheelchair stunt officially opens the 2016 Paralympic Games
Aaron ‘Wheelz’ Fotheringham just opened the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in badass style -- with a death-defying, fireworks-accompanied stunt.
The 24-year-old from Las Vegas, adapts his moves from a hybrid of skateboarding and BMX racing, kicked off the 2016 Games with a surprise demonstration of his WCMX wheelchair skills. He pulled the stunt after the president of the International Paralympic Committee, Sir Phillip Craven, gave the official countdown to kick of the Games.
SEE ALSO:Athletes with Down syndrome fight for inclusion at the ParalympicsAppearing in a bright green chair at the top of a six-story high construction, Fotheringham went flying down the giant ramp, with fireworks going off on either side of him, only to launch into a somersault through a large ring. It. Was. Epic.
Go Wheelz.Credit: Getty ImagesThe stadium filled with cheers as the three-hour procession of paralympians, dancing and up-tempo music kicked off.
In an a interview with People Magazineearlier this year, the star of Nitro Circus, a touring extreme sports collective, explained his motivation.
"A lot of people view the wheelchair as being negative, or kind of like a prison, like you always hear people say, ‘confined to a wheelchair,'" Fotheringham, who has Spina Bifida, said. "And for me, I never felt confined to the wheelchair – it always was a great opportunity so if I could say anything to anyone living on a wheelchair, it's all about having a positive attitude and just kind of looking for the bright side of things."
Tweet may have been deleted
He added, "wheelchairs provide just as many opportunities as someone with working legs, it's just you got to get out there and kind of chase it."
Tweet may have been deleted
No doubt many more young people will be inspired at take up the art of "hardcore sitting," as Fotheringham jokingly calls it, after seeing this act of showmanship.
Now that the 11-day games have officially begun, they'll be plenty more where that came from.
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
-
Apple iPod: The First 10 Years of the Ubiquitous Media PlayerLeaked Samsung Galaxy S8 Dex Station dock reveals PCThe new emoji coming this year include broccoli, a T. rex and this oddly sexy insectUber will totally narc on teensYoon, US Senate's armed service committee chief discuss alliance, N.K. threatsThe internet mocks Alex Jones' conspiracy theory with #SecondCivilWarLetters3 reasons to worry about the FBI's facial recognition programHow the Apple Measure app in iOS 12 works实干担当抓落实 多措并举促发展This formula explains why NYC is great for ride
下一篇:Best smart home deal: The Amazon Smart Thermostat is just $63.99
- ·11 Unique Amaros and Liqueurs to Level Up Your Aperol Spritz
- ·Of course America is celebrating 4th of July with a misspelled hashtag
- ·全面提升农业科技特派员能力!揭阳市农技推广服务驿站培训班召开
- ·Um why is there a teddy bear emoji on these leaked Samsung Galaxy S8 camera photos?
- ·Black Friday GPU Buying Guide: November GPU Pricing Update
- ·Instagram is reportedly testing a 'questions' feature for Stories
- ·US, South Korea form 'better foundation' for declaration of end to Korean War: Seoul envoy
- ·Adult toy store employees fight off armed robber by throwing dildos at him
- ·10 Big Misconceptions About Computer Hardware
- ·New photos of dead children highlight horror of refugee crisis.
- ·Instagram is reportedly testing a 'questions' feature for Stories
- ·Man's live tweets from a café prove love isn't dead just yet
- ·微视频广东:在推进中国式现代化建设中走在前列
- ·名山区林业局完善森林管护宣传标示牌设立
- ·N. Korea to unveil new economic plans in January party meeting
- ·The best album covers of 2018 (so far)
- ·Doosan scraps controversial Robotics
- ·5 ways to fight Trump's Supreme Court pick, Brett Kavanaugh
- ·Hey! You! Quick! The Nintendo Switch is on Amazon right now
- ·Woman rescues her attacked pup with a tip she learned on Reddit
- ·SCOTUS: The courts implementing Project 2025, without Trump.
- ·Uber's self
- ·North Korea to defy coronavirus with huge parade
- ·Prosecution chief nominee vows political neautrality
- ·DNC 2024 speech: Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have a superpower no other Democrat has.
- ·Artist brilliantly animates 'This Is America' using Apple computers from the '80s
- ·50 Years Later: The Revolutionary 8008 Microprocessor
- ·Polar fitness app revealed sensitive information of overseas soldiers
- ·Um why is there a teddy bear emoji on these leaked Samsung Galaxy S8 camera photos?
- ·Double parker receives shoppers' wrath in the form of shopping carts
- ·This shark lives for centuries. Scientists discover how it resists aging.
- ·How the Apple Measure app in iOS 12 works
- ·爆破我市最高建筑物 雅化集团成功实施雅安“第一爆”
- ·广州对口帮扶疏附中小学音乐美术教师能力提升培训班开班
- ·Cicadas love to land on people. Experts explain why.
- ·Instagram is reportedly testing a 'questions' feature for Stories