THE Paralympics got off to a daredevil start on Wednesday with a crazy wheelchair stunt.
Aaron ‘Wheelz’ Fotheringham, 24, was born with spina bifida, a condition where the spine does not develop properly. He grew up in Las Vegas and started trying tricks in his wheelchair from an early age.
He forms part of Nitro Circus, a group of friends who travel the world riding motorbikes, base jumping, and performing stunts for crowds of thousands.
WOW – what a jump! Bring on the #Rio2016 #Paralympics #OpeningCeremony https://t.co/KqAWesU2F9
— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) September 7, 2016
“With the wheelchair, one of the main stereotypes is that you can’t do anything, and I’m trying to show it’s something more positive,” he told the Weekly News in April.
“I don’t like how a chair’s viewed as a prison, something that holds you back, that’s just looking at it one-sided.
“Just like anything it can also be a positive.
“I love showing people how to have fun with their chair — it’s brought a lot of joy to me in my life so I’m just trying to share that a little bit and change perceptions at the same time.”
Click here to read the full interview
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