#26 John Gildea | 2x Para World Champion | How a Mountainbike Accident changed his Life!

Paralympic cyclist. Business man. Father and husband. John Gildea was a keen mountain biker until a stomach-churning crash changed the course of his life. Listen for a masterclass in success, grit and determination on and off the track.

Join PodCrash hosts Callum Skinner and Philip Hindes as they catch up with Gildea in their mobile studio at the cycling World Championships in Harrogate.

Kicking off the episode, the 2X World Champ explains how he grew up mountain biking as a kid, riding in the juniors category, before he got a job and started a family. While cycling remained a passion for Galdea, his focus was on building his business, until one landing went horrifyingly wrong and left him hospital-bound in May 2012.

Having flipped over the handlebars, dislocated his knee, destroyed his ligaments and severed his nerves, Gildea was told he’d never cycle again. But, less than a year later, he was wearing a GB skinsuit and training as a paralympic rider.

“In the back of my mind I was 32 and I wanted my fittest days to be in front of me.” - John Gildea

We talk about his transition into the GB Paralympic team and how, as the owner of his own company and a family man, he balances life and work. Gildea discusses his expectations of the sport, what he hopes to achieve in Tokyo 2020 and how working smart makes anything possible...

Show us the love by subscribing, rating and reviewing PodCrash. You can also watch all of our cycling podcasts on our YouTube channel. We’re sponsored by Tempur Mattresses - listen to the show to receive a code for £100 off a new mattress. A special thank you also to La Marzocco for providing our coffee machine on the road and North Star Coffee for providing the beans!

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Philip Hindes

British Cycling

Stuart Street

Manchester

M11 4DQ

U.K.