Janine Shepherd , (born January 7, 1962) is an Australian writer, an aerobatic pilot and a former cross-country skier. Shepherd's career as an athlete ended when he suffered a life-threatening injury when hit by a truck during a bike ride. Before the accident, he competed to win Australia's first medal at the Winter Olympics. Though he was told that he would never walk again or have a child, and the doctor had significant doubts about whether he would survive, he opposed all this, and the story then became the focus of national attention, as well as the popular telemovie.
Video Janine Shepherd
Initial years
Sheperd has been an athletic athlete since childhood, winning several national titles at the age of 10. Although he was gifted in a number of sports, he settled on cross-country skiing. After achieving success on the World circuit, he was offered training with the Canadian team in the lead to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
Maps Janine Shepherd
Accident
In 1986, Shepherd cycled through the Blue Mountains of New South Wales as part of his training regime, when things changed. He was hit by a vehicle, suffering a major injury. He suffered a broken neck and back, lost five liters of blood, suffered severe injuries in his abdominal area. His right leg was torn open, his collarbone and his five ribs were cracked, and he was seriously injured. The doctor initially thought he would not live, but he managed to do it. She was then told that she would be tied to a wheelchair for the rest of her life, and would never have a child.
Rehabilitation
Over the next few years, Shepherd began a slow rehabilitation process. He was determined to oppose the predictions set by his doctor, and managed to do so.
Achievements
While still remaining partially paralyzed, he can finally walk again, and has three children. He obtained his pilot's license within one year after the accident, and subsequently obtained a commercial pilot license, an instructor license, eventually becoming a trained aerobatic fly instructor. He also became the first female director of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Shepherd has written six books on his experiences. The first, Never Tell Me Never was made into a successful telemovie, with Shepherd played by Claudia Karvan. He also has a Bachelor's degree in Human Motion/Education.
Shepherd is a torchbearer at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney. More recently, Shepherd took dressage in an effort to represent Australia at the 2004 Summer Paralympics, despite suffering from chronic back pain.
Shepherd is an ambassador to Spinal Cure Australia, and was appointed Member of the Australian Order in 2001 for his community service, inspiration and work in raising awareness of spinal cord research. In 1998, Shepherd was also awarded the title of Civilized Youth in the World, one of ten young people recognized annually by the International Junior Chamber. The story has appeared in '60 minutes' Australia, This is Your Life and ABC's' Talking Heads'. TEDX Shepherd speaks in Kansas City, 'A Broken Body not a Broken Person'. He is on a motivational speaking circuit, and currently lives in Wyoming in the United States.
Books
- Rebels (2016) (ISBN: 978-1622037100)
- Acceptance Gifts (2012) (ISBN: 978-1-74269-560-0)
- On My Own Two Feet (2007) (ISBN: 978-1-74166-046-3)
- Reaching For Stars (1998) (ISBN 0-09-183986-6)
- Dare To Fly (1998) (ISBN 0-09-183721-9)
- Never Tell Me Never (1995) (ISBNÃ, 0-7251-0747-2)
References
External links
- You Are Not Your Body: Janine Shepherd tells her story at TEDxKC
- The Janine Shepherd website
- Janine Shepherd on Twitter
- Audio interview with Janine Shepherd
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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