RODRIGUEZ Matthew

Classification
T2 (UCI, 21 Jun 2021)

Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries (teamusa.org, 10 Sep 2019)

Origin of Impairment
Acquired (teamusa.org, 10 Sep 2019)

Impairment Details
At age 29 he was involved in a car accident that threw him from his vehicle and narrowly avoided severing his spinal cord. His impairment affects his balance and speech. (teamusa.org, 10 Sep 2019)

General
RETURN TO CYCLING
After his accident he was initially told by doctors that he would not be able to cycle again. He spent four years training on a stationary bike before being able to ride a tricycle around his neighbourhood. "I was never supposed to [ride a bike again] according to the doctors. They said I would never walk, I would never ride or go to school, anything. I wanted to prove that I could do it. I missed cycling. I was a big cyclist back in the day, and I really missed it. I was then able to get on the bike and just go wherever I wanted to. It was just very, very emotional for me. It meant a lot." (teamusa.org, 10 Sep 2019)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
In 2015 he released the book 'The Matthew Rodriguez Story - Inspiring the Disabled To Be All They Can Be'. He has also served as a personal trainer and fitness coach. (LinkedIn profile, 09 Aug 2021; amazon.co.uk, 26 Feb 2015)