Matt Hammond - Overcoming Adversity
Life has a way of throwing the most unexpected challenges in front of you, and overcoming adversity is something Competitive gym legend Matty Hammond has faced full on in recent
months.
An avid road cyclist, Matty was looking to transition into the fast-paced, undulating realms of mountain biking, and headed out to Mundaring and Kalamunda with a friend to learn
some new tricks.
“For something I had only done once or twice beforehand, I was finding it very easy”, said Matty.
“The first couple of runs we went down were challenging but not too hard. I really enjoyed going back up the hill and wrestling the bike to find a good line.”
What happened next is something Matty will never forget.
“My friend took me to his favourite run, and before we started, he said for me to go first as I was fitter and moving faster through the courses than him.”
“I set off and without knowing the run I went full speed ahead. I came to a crest about 100m into the run and instead of slowing down to check out what was on the other side, I hit it
like a jump.”
At that point, Matty knew he was going too fast for that section of the course and tried to slow down to minimise the impending crash.
“I tried to slow down but when applying the brakes I started to skid, which I was not used to from only riding on the road.”
“I realised I was now in trouble and tried to skid the bike sideways and hopefully fall off, but as I did the back wheel hit a stump which flicked the bike around and me over the
handlebars. From the skid marks and tyre tracks I flew about three metres before landing at the base of a tree on a rock.”
From the crash, Matty had suffered serious injury, fracturing four vertebrae in five places, and fracturing the C7 (lower part of my neck) on both sides, meaning regular visits to a spinal specialist and wearing a half body brace for 13 weeks.
months.
An avid road cyclist, Matty was looking to transition into the fast-paced, undulating realms of mountain biking, and headed out to Mundaring and Kalamunda with a friend to learn
some new tricks.
“For something I had only done once or twice beforehand, I was finding it very easy”, said Matty.
“The first couple of runs we went down were challenging but not too hard. I really enjoyed going back up the hill and wrestling the bike to find a good line.”
What happened next is something Matty will never forget.
“My friend took me to his favourite run, and before we started, he said for me to go first as I was fitter and moving faster through the courses than him.”
“I set off and without knowing the run I went full speed ahead. I came to a crest about 100m into the run and instead of slowing down to check out what was on the other side, I hit it
like a jump.”
At that point, Matty knew he was going too fast for that section of the course and tried to slow down to minimise the impending crash.
“I tried to slow down but when applying the brakes I started to skid, which I was not used to from only riding on the road.”
“I realised I was now in trouble and tried to skid the bike sideways and hopefully fall off, but as I did the back wheel hit a stump which flicked the bike around and me over the
handlebars. From the skid marks and tyre tracks I flew about three metres before landing at the base of a tree on a rock.”
From the crash, Matty had suffered serious injury, fracturing four vertebrae in five places, and fracturing the C7 (lower part of my neck) on both sides, meaning regular visits to a spinal specialist and wearing a half body brace for 13 weeks.
“When I got to hospital, the nurses laid me down and asked what happened and went straight into spinal precautions (towels either side of my head and not able to move it) and I stayed in that position for the next three days.”
“I had to get x-rays, ultrasounds and MRI's. It felt never ending. My sense of direction was gone as all I had seen of the hospital was the ceiling.”
After such a long time in recovery, Matty was keen to begin the rehabilitation process and try to build some normality back into his life, which has literally been turned upside down.
Matty enlisted the help of Competitive Boxing and Strength Coach Mick Lance to assist in the rehabilitation phase.
“The rehab was originally lots of neck and upper back mobility exercises. I also went back to boxing with some light bag work and shadow boxing. Shadow boxing was great for mobility.”
“After four or so weeks on the bag my right elbow started to get really sore, so I stopped punching and haven't been able to go back. The physio found my right tricep had approximately 20% of the strength as my left side, which was caused by a pinched nerve in my neck from the accident.”
“Working collaboratively with my physio and Mick, we developed a rehab and weight training program in order to build strength and mobility.”
“My right arm strength is getting heaps better, but I still have an issue with the right elbow. Getting back on my bike was great for my fitness and helping get my leg strength back. As soon as my brace came off, I was back out on the road averaging 60kms a week.”
Even through the pain and adversity Matty faced, he continued to be motivated to get back to his pre-accident fitness levels, setting personal goals that he is determined to achieve.
“I would love to box again, so hopefully in the not too distant future my elbow gets better and my fitness improves, and I can compete as an 81kg amateur again.”
“I'm already back cycling on the road and track (velodrome) and will look into racing in the next six months. I will be back on the mountain bike again soon and complete the track that I had the accident on.”
“I also want to achieve a 200kg deadlift, a 150kg squat and 100kg bench press in the long term.”
Everyone at Competitive Boxing Gym is proud of the way Matty has handled this adversity and its challenges. His mindset continues to be strong and he is a true example of courage and determination.
We look forward to seeing Matty reach his goals in the future.
“I had to get x-rays, ultrasounds and MRI's. It felt never ending. My sense of direction was gone as all I had seen of the hospital was the ceiling.”
After such a long time in recovery, Matty was keen to begin the rehabilitation process and try to build some normality back into his life, which has literally been turned upside down.
Matty enlisted the help of Competitive Boxing and Strength Coach Mick Lance to assist in the rehabilitation phase.
“The rehab was originally lots of neck and upper back mobility exercises. I also went back to boxing with some light bag work and shadow boxing. Shadow boxing was great for mobility.”
“After four or so weeks on the bag my right elbow started to get really sore, so I stopped punching and haven't been able to go back. The physio found my right tricep had approximately 20% of the strength as my left side, which was caused by a pinched nerve in my neck from the accident.”
“Working collaboratively with my physio and Mick, we developed a rehab and weight training program in order to build strength and mobility.”
“My right arm strength is getting heaps better, but I still have an issue with the right elbow. Getting back on my bike was great for my fitness and helping get my leg strength back. As soon as my brace came off, I was back out on the road averaging 60kms a week.”
Even through the pain and adversity Matty faced, he continued to be motivated to get back to his pre-accident fitness levels, setting personal goals that he is determined to achieve.
“I would love to box again, so hopefully in the not too distant future my elbow gets better and my fitness improves, and I can compete as an 81kg amateur again.”
“I'm already back cycling on the road and track (velodrome) and will look into racing in the next six months. I will be back on the mountain bike again soon and complete the track that I had the accident on.”
“I also want to achieve a 200kg deadlift, a 150kg squat and 100kg bench press in the long term.”
Everyone at Competitive Boxing Gym is proud of the way Matty has handled this adversity and its challenges. His mindset continues to be strong and he is a true example of courage and determination.
We look forward to seeing Matty reach his goals in the future.
