Nicole Banks

After a life changing injury, I discovered other activities to take part in. It was really important that I continued to do exercise. This helped me keep mentally healthy at a time when I needed it most. Once I grasped the understanding that I couldn’t compete at a high level, I started to look at activity as being part of my life, rather than always having a race, or an end goal.

This was important, as I wanted to try adrenaline sports, and this meant I had to work hard at my physical shape to allow me to experience the likes of kite surfing, wing foiling, mountain biking, open water swimming, and road cycling. I also knew it was important to keep fit, to keep up with a young family and play sports with them too.

There is always an alternative that we can do to keep fit, which helps to stay positive for our everyday lives. I am lucky enough to experience the activities I want to do, knowing and understanding the limitations and working around them to achieve this.

I love being outdoors, I love being active, and I love the feeling of freedom it allows me. I walk my dog in the fields, I jump waves on my kite, I go cross country riding on my mountain bike and all the other parts that exercise allows me to do, and this is because I make sure my body is ready and able, no matter what I ask of it.