logo
Daredevil who was paralysed in motorbike stunt gone horribly wrong reveals how she found love again - and the crucial question she asked her man on their first date

Daredevil who was paralysed in motorbike stunt gone horribly wrong reveals how she found love again - and the crucial question she asked her man on their first date

Daily Mail​24-04-2025

Christina Vithoulkas, Australia's first female para drifter, has revealed how she found love again after a shocking motorcycle accident six and a half years ago changed her life forever.
Vithoulkas was visiting family in South Australia in 2018 when she came off her dirt bike while attempting a stunt, leaving her with a lacerated spleen, fractured skull, punctured lungs, broken ribs and a severed spinal cord.
Her injuries were so bad she was later told she would never walk again.
And while her life has changed dramatically since the accident, she has vowed to not let anything stop her from living her life to the fullest.
The 30-year-old has relearned how to do everything in her day-to-day life - including getting her adrenaline rush by drifting suped-up cars - and she's even found love again.
'I am so grateful for where my life has taken me. I'm in a two-and-a-half-year relationship with the man of my dreams,' Vithoulkas told News Corp.
'He is too good to be true and I am so grateful our paths crossed.
'He is the only person since my injury besides my immediate family who sees me as a human being and doesn't view me as 'disabled'.
'He's on the same page as me about not wanting kids in the immediate future and it was one of the first things we discussed on our first date, because I think it's important and people wait too long to have uncomfortable conversations.
'Trying to juggle the disability and kids at the same time wouldn't be something I'd want to jump into anytime soon.
'I'm only 30 so I have so much time to work out what is ahead of me.'
Vithoulkas has also found joy in motorsports again - this time in drifting.
Drifting is a sport where the driver intentionally oversteers, with loss of traction, while maintaining control and driving the car through the entirety of a corner or a turn
Vithoulkas competes in a modified car which has hand controls instead of a brake and clutch on the floor.
The former freestyle motocross rider has since found joy in motorsports again - this time in drifting
'That's why I love drifting so much … I can't think of another sport that a paralysed person can do where we're not separated from the non-disabled community,' she told the ABC.
'If drifting became an Olympic sport, I wouldn't need to be in the Paralympics.
'I think that's why I love it so much, because when I'm out there, I feel normal. That's probably not a right word to say, but that's exactly how I feel.
'I feel like I'm not at any disadvantage.'
Vithoulkas is now helping raise money for Wings for Life World Run - with 100% of the run's entry costs being donated towards spinal research.
'It isn't so much about finding a cure for me personally, but the thousands of people all around the world whose lives would significantly change for the better if they were able to walk again,' she said.
'I love this run, walk and roll event.
'It's not something I necessarily train for as a wheelchair racer, I go there and do my best and I think that is the great thing about it.
'It's you against you. You can take it seriously or you can just go there and have fun with your friends and family.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sir Chris Hoy returns to alternative sport as Olympic hero takes on 'very different challenge'
Sir Chris Hoy returns to alternative sport as Olympic hero takes on 'very different challenge'

Scotsman

timea day ago

  • Scotsman

Sir Chris Hoy returns to alternative sport as Olympic hero takes on 'very different challenge'

Edinburgh's Sir Chris Hoy will team up with former Top Gear host Chris Harris for the Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Sir Chris Hoy has confirmed that he will join Top Gear host Chris Harris for the 'Dark Horse Stars' class at the Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational having been selected as the first two drivers. The June 11-14 event, held at the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe, will mark the international race debut for the Dark Horse R - with 35-plus Ford Mustang Dark Horse R race cars being shipped over from the US. It marks a return to motor racing at legendary Le Mans for cycling hero Hoy, who revealed that he had incurable stage four prostate cancer last October. The six-time Olympic gold medallist, 49, told how he was 'excited' to get back behind the wheel at the French track on social media platform Instagram. Back in 2016, four tears after retiring from track cycling, Hoy completed the Le Mans 24 Hours and was previously part of the British GT Car Racing Championship. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sir Chris Hoy 'excited' to return to Le Mans The Edinburgh native said: 'So excited about this. Huge thanks to Ford Performance. Can't wait to get out in the Mustang and give it a run.' Scott Bartlett, of Ford Performance, added: 'Sir Chris is an incredible man who has delivered on the world stage and is now facing a very different challenge. For him to want to take on Le Mans in a Mustang Dark Horse R is testament to the allure that Mustang has. We are also delighted that he is partnering with Chris Harris, whose global following on YouTube will give us another boost.' Hoy also trailed his Tour De 4 charity bike ride in September in support of other stage four patients. That is taking place at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow. The hope is to raise £1 million for 32,000 plus people living with stage four cancer in the UK. Edinburgh native Sir Chris Hoy helps save over 1,000 lives He's recently been credited with saving over 1,000 lives following his decision to go public with his terminal prostate cancer diagnosis. Hoy has since collaborated with Prostate Cancer UK to launch an online 30-second 'risk checker' questionnaire. Since starting, over 180,000 men have taken the test, leading to more than 1,000 people being diagnosed with prostate cancer through PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "So that campaign has saved lives," Sir Chris acknowledged. "In all the chaos and all the fear and all the horror of first being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, you can never imagine any positive outcome coming from that situation. So to know that there is one has given me a purpose. In difficult moments, you remind yourself, actually there is a net positive from this whole situation. And I'm lucky because I have a platform."

Honda Powers Team USA Through LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Honda Powers Team USA Through LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Auto Blog

time2 days ago

  • Auto Blog

Honda Powers Team USA Through LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games

For over 60 years, Honda has been a part of the Los Angeles community, and now they are backing the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic games as a huge sponsor. A partnership for good At an event at American Honda Headquarters in Torrance, CA, American Honda President and CEO Kazuhiro Takizawa was joined by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, LA28 representatives, community business partners, as well as Olympic and Paralympic stars to celebrate their announcement the automaker's support and expanding involvement in the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic games. On top of being a founding partner with LA28, the Japanese automaker is taking its support a step further. 2025 Ford Maverick: 4 reasons to love it, 2 reasons to think twice Watch More Honda X LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Honda will deliver a fleet of accessible vehicles, along with a 'wide range of mobility products,' and will also donate $1 million over a multi-year period to U.S. Olympic and Paralympic participants who require support. This support also extends to the athletes participating in the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. Honda X LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games 'Honda will help the world's greatest athletes pursue their dreams in 2028 as a Founding Partner of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Honda, which established its first U.S. operations in Los Angeles in June 1959, will also serve as the Official Automotive Partner of Team USA, supporting the United States Olympic and Paralympic teams during the LA28 Games and upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026,' the company said in a statement. Both Honda's and Acura's lineups will be represented in the donation roster. The upcoming all-electric Honda 0-series EVs and the upcoming Acura RSX EV will be deployed alongside the funky, folding Honda Motocompacto e-scooter, side-by-sides, and motorcycles. Honda and Acura vehicles will also be the only models used as pace cars for endurance events during the games. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Final thoughts Back in 1959, Honda opened its first U.S. store in Los Angeles, CA, selling scooters and motorcycles. In many ways, they endeared themselves to the community while establishing a foothold in the United States. Angelinos like me grew up knowing that Honda was deeply ingrained in the SoCal culture, so it's nice to see them embrace such an event with so much dedication and devotion.

Sir Chris Hoy reveals return to motor racing as he teams up with ex Top Gear star for exciting race
Sir Chris Hoy reveals return to motor racing as he teams up with ex Top Gear star for exciting race

Scottish Sun

time3 days ago

  • Scottish Sun

Sir Chris Hoy reveals return to motor racing as he teams up with ex Top Gear star for exciting race

Olympic cycling legend turned petrol-head previously puts in a superb drive to finish in the top 20 in the famous endurance race in 2016 HE'S LE MAN Sir Chris Hoy reveals return to motor racing as he teams up with ex Top Gear star for exciting race Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SIR Chris Hoy has revealed his return to motor racing at legendary Le Mans. The Olympic hero, who has incurable cancer, last night told how he was 'excited' to get back behind the wheel at the French track. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 SIR Chris Hoy is to return to motor racing by competing at the legendary Le Mans race track 3 The Algarve Pro Racing Ligier Nissan of Sir Chris Hoy, Michael Munemann and Andrea Pizzitola drives during the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit de la Sarthe on June 19, 2016 Credit: Getty Images - Getty It will see the dad of two team up with ex- Top Gear star Chris Harris in a new supercar race. Sir Chris, 49, completed the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2016, four years after retiring from track cycling. He will be joined at next week's Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational event by YouTuber Chris, 50. The pair will join forces in a Ford Mustang Dark Horse R race car. Hailing organisers, Sir Chris said: 'So excited about this. Huge thanks to Ford Performance. 'Can't wait to get out in the Mustang and give it a run.' Edinburgh-born Sir Chris won six Olympic gold medals before retiring after London 2012. Two years later he joined the British GT car racing championship. He then fulfilled a boyhood dream while finishing 18th in the 60-car Le Mans endurance race four years on. At the time he said he felt like he had added to his Olympics haul. The former velodrome star was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 2023. Last year he revealed his condition is terminal and that he was given two to four years to live. Incredible moment emotional Sir Chris Hoy delivers ball at Scotland v Ireland to rousing reception amid cancer battle Now he is drumming up support for his Tour De 4 charity bike ride in September in support of other stage four patients. Last night Scott Bartlett, of Ford Performance, said: 'Sir Chris is an incredible man who has delivered on the world stage and is now facing a very different challenge. 'For him to want to take on Le Mans in a Mustang Dark Horse R is testament to the allure that Mustang has. 'We are also delighted that he is partnering with Chris Harris, whose global following on YouTube will give us another boost.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store