Woman vows to ride again after failed motocross jump paralyses her
A young motocross rider who became paralysed when a jump went horribly wrong is refusing to let her injury stop her from living a full life.
Fearless freestyler Christina Vithoulkas could not get enough of motocross – especially jumping – but her ambition to fly a bigger distance changed her life forever.
The 23-year-old Riverland woman, who lives in regional Victoria with fiancé James Wild, was back in South Australia riding on a mate’s property a fortnight ago when she came off her bike during a failed jump.
“I knew it wasn’t going to be a great landing and then everything was a blur,” she told 7 News.
Ms Vithoulkas severed her spine and lost movement from the chest down.
Doctors delivered the thrill-seeker the devastating news it was unlikely she would ever walk again.
Despite the soul-crushing news, Ms Vithoulkas says she is determined to master her wheelchair and eventually get back on the bike.
Her parents have not left her bedside and neither has her twin sister, Irene, or her partner.
“I’ll never leave her side, I love this girl,” Mr Wild said.
Ms Vithoulkas joked: “No, I’ll chain you to my wheelchair!
“There’s no reason to be upset when I’ve got my family all this support around me,” she added.
“I’ll still be me. I’ll still be looking out for new activities – [like] fishing.”
“I’ll still be riding – I’ll get that frame put on my bike, which my mum isn’t very fond of.”
Ms Vithoulkas will be flown to a Victorian hospital next week where she is expected to spend three months building strength.
Then she and her partner hope to buy their country home, which will need to be specially fitted to cater for the woman’s injury.
Her family has already raised almost $90,000 to help with the special fixtures and will hold a charity ride in her honour on Sunday.
