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Two years ago, Gabriel “Gabe” McKenna-Lieschke awoke from an artificial coma and realized through the haze of very strong painkillers that his right arm was gone.
The bodybuilder was lifting weights at a gym in Adelaide’s northern suburb of Gepps Cross in November 2020, just as he had done hundreds of times before.
But at some point, his life changed when lifting a 50kg barbell caused his biceps tendon to tear off his arm.
“What should have been routine surgery to repair the tear, followed by rehabilitation, turned into a nightmare that nearly cost Gabe his life,” his friend Edward Noble wrote on a GoFundMe page to help McKenna-Lieschke reach his goal for the Paralympic Championship. To realize games.
Gabriel McKenna-Lieschke (pictured on his bike) is determined to win gold for Australia at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris
Three days after surgery in November 2020, McKenna-Lieschke, 29, had to be rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide.
His arm was swollen after he contracted a rapidly spreading “flesh-eating” infection called necrotizing fasciitis, caused by bacteria that release toxins into the body.
McKenna-Lieschke was in an artificial coma for 10 days and underwent 11 surgeries, but surgeons had to amputate his right arm above the elbow to save his life.
“I was on a lot of drugs and didn’t realize what had happened for a few days until I looked in the mirror and my arm was gone,” he told police. Advertiser.
He had a passion for being strong and had trained hard since his teens.
Before the accident, McKenna-Lieschke was just two weeks away from completing a civil engineering degree.
Family and friends were told his chances of waking from the coma were slim.
But Mr. Noble said his friend is a fighter.
“When Gabe regained consciousness, the first thing he said to me was, ‘I just need to eat this,’ followed shortly by, ‘I think I want to do track cycling!'” he said.
McKenna-Lieschke is now a very strong contender for a cycling spot at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
“I intend to win a gold medal,” he said.
It’s a huge change from his life just over two years ago. Before his accident, he rode mountain bikes, but never a road bike.
He had done both boxing and bodybuilding up to the injury, but realized they were both a bit impractical now – but he wanted to get involved.
“I accepted that my arm wouldn’t grow back and decided to move on with my life and try to figure out what I could compete in best,” he said.
Family friend and local media personality Jane Reilly introduced him to state MP Matt Cowdrey, who is Australia’s most successful Paralympics with 23 medals.
Mr Cowdrey introduced McKenna-Lieschke to cycling officials and from there a path to Paralympics participation developed.
After initially taking endurance cycling, the national team coach suggested he might be better at sprinting.
The coach was right. “Sprinting and strength training gave me back a lot of my identity,” said McKenna-Lieschke.
Gabriel ‘Gabe’ McKenna-Lieschke (pictured) woke up from an artificial coma and realized through the haze of very strong painkillers that his right arm was missing
His first goal was to make it to the Australian team for the World Championships in Glasgow in August next year, followed by Paris in 2024, taking part in the 1km time trial and team sprint.
A major impediment to his plans, however, is cost.
The prosthesis he uses in training cannot be used at the Paralympics, and buying the right carbon fiber isn’t cheap.
This is why friends including Mr Noble started the GoFundMe page to raise money for the prosthesis, equipment, travel and other expenses.
“I think my resilience story is something that can really help and inspire others to make it difficult,” McKenna-Lieschke said.
Gabe McKenna-Lieschke (pictured) is training hard and determined to win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris