Before the crash that left him paralyzed, Pedro Henrique was a competitive surfer whose ability to ride the waves won him a college scholarship. After becoming paralyzed from the waist down, Henrique joined a group called “Hardcore Sitting,” which teaches people in wheelchairs to fearlessly flip off half-pipes and rails like extreme skateboarders. His coach realized Henrique’s athletic abilities from before the accident would serve him well in this new sport, and started training him to become the first Brazilian to successfully do a backflip in a wheelchair.
Henrique said he hopes his experience inspires other people who use a wheelchair to get out and try new things, like he did: “Life doesn’t stop just because you’re in a wheelchair.”