“Got Taken Out by a Big…”: After Almost Two Decades of Competitive Cycling, Sports Star Opens Up About Gnarly Details

Cycling can be an entertaining sport only if safety measures are taken, or it can give rise to numerous brutal injuries and fatal accidents. Recently, Australian cycling star, Garry James shared his experience of cycling injuries. James is a prolific cyclist who had almost two decades of competitive cycling experience and he rides both road and off-road routes. In 2021, Garry took the Everest challenge to raise money and awareness for the independence project. 

Cycling and equestrian are some of the sports that consist of many physical advantages, such as keeping the muscles and bones moving and flexible, and hence there are fewer chances of strains. But it carries a lot of disadvantages too; if the cyclist falls, it can cause concussion and other brain and physical injuries. Along similar lines, James recalled his sore visit to the emergency department due to multiple fractures. 

Garry James recalled cycling mishaps 

Garry James has been professionally cycling for two decades now. Hence, emergency ward tours were inevitable on his journey. “I’ve broken my collarbone twice, broken my scapula, my sternum, my pelvis, I’ve broken seven ribs, and I’ve taken multiple huge chunks out of my body many times,” Garry recalls his injuries rose from cycling accidents.  However, James is not afraid of cycling; he rather likes the risk of the journey. The wildlife caused his latest injury when he was dragged by a kangaroo. “I heard a rustle in the grass … and I just got taken out by a really big kangaroo, thrown over the handlebars, knocked unconscious.” 

In an interview with abc, he recalled sliding for about 15 mins on the ground, which damaged and took a lot of his skin. He also broke his collarbone during the horrible incident. The incident aroused his fear of kangaroos whenever he tried to descend a hill. Hence, it can be deduced that cycling is one of the sports for being responsible for the highest amount of injuries.

Cycling indisputably provokes the most hospitalization

Cycling is also known to give rise to the most hospitalizations, which is then followed by Football (soccer), Roller Sports, Rugby codes, Australian rules, motor sports, equestrian, basketball, recreational walking, netball, etc. The accident metrics in these categories are reported for both men and women. However, Garry’s cause of the accident was not cycling but the wild kangaroos, but cycling does contain abundance of terrifying injuries.

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Garry James also recalls how his friend was brutally taken out by a wild brush turkey which unfortunately left him quadriplegic. Harsh unpredicted weather, wildlife, and jammed routes are the major causes of injuries during cycling. Incidents are unpredictable, and one cannot just make all the assurance during any sport. 

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