Hayden Wilde's return: cycling in the Pyrenees and first laps in the pool
Hayden Wilde He's smiling again. The 27-year-old New Zealand triathlete, silver medalist in the Paris OlympicsHe has completed his first training sessions after the brutal accident he suffered in Japan, where he was hit by a truck while training on a bike.
The impact left him with six broken ribs, a shattered shoulder blade and a punctured lung.
But now, just weeks after being cleared to use both arms, Wilde is back on her bike… and swimming.
First outdoor training since the accident
Installed at its base in Andorra, Savage has gotten back on the bike on the steep slopes of the Coll d'Ordino, a mythical climb in the Pyrenees.
"It's my first ride in months. Here in Andorra, the roads are smooth, there aren't many vibrations, and since I'm constantly climbing, my shoulder isn't under as much pressure," he explained on his YouTube channel.
He said he didn't feel any pain during the journey, which is key at this point in his recovery: "The body remembers; you just have to ask it the right question and trust it to respond."
Return to the water too: first meters swimming with both arms
The other big development in the New Zealander's progress has been his return to the pool. "Today I'm swimming with both arms for the first time," he announced.
His partner, the Belgian triathlete Hanne de vet, recorded the laps and confirmed that Wilde “is stronger than ever,” joking that she “should have had shoulder surgery before the Games.”
Beyond the humor, the truth is that Hanne He can no longer keep up with her on the bike or in running. “His numbers are improving, and that's really motivating him. He's enjoying the process of getting back in shape,” he said.
Physical and mental recovery between Austria and Andorra
Wilde's rehabilitation process has been divided between the high performance center of Red Bull in Austria and his Andorran residence.
Wilde's entourage has confirmed that doctors have already given him the all-clear regarding his lung condition, and although there's no official date for his return, he himself hasn't ruled out competing before the end of the year.
Triathlon or farming? Your backup plan if you never compete again.
In a relaxed tone, Savage He also shared an alternative option if he's unable to return to the highest level: "I'm getting hooked on Clarkson's Farm, so if I can't compete again, I might as well start a vegetable garden up here in Andorra. Potatoes, carrots... I have a good climate for planting," he joked.
Will he compete again in 2025?
Although everything indicates that we'll soon see him back on an international starting list, the priority right now remains his full recovery.
Triathletes, fans and rivals hope to see them again Savage competing at the highest level. For now, the important thing is that the road back has begun.
