Andrea Pusateri believes “unattainable is simply an opinion”—and he’s doing all he can to show that’s true.
It’s a exceptional outlook contemplating the challenges the Italian athlete has confronted all through his life. In 1997, when Pusateri was simply 4 years previous, he fell onto the practice tracks at Monza station—as a practice sped towards him. His mom rescued him, however tragically died within the course of, giving her life to avoid wasting his.
On that fateful day, he misplaced each his mom and his proper leg.
Andrea Pusateri misplaced his proper leg in a practice accident when he was simply 4 years previous. Photo courtesy of Andrea Pusateri
But Pusateri discovered methods to persevere. Sports helped give him function, and biking made him a champion. In 2008, he grew to become a Paralympic athlete in biking, and went on to reach each nationwide and worldwide competitions.
In 2015, he confronted one other brush with demise. While coaching in Como, Pusateri suffered a severe biking harm. He was airlifted to a hospital, the place he spent seven days in a medically induced coma. He survived and—undeterred—received gold on the World Cup in Maniago solely three months later.
Now the 28-year-old athlete has 9 Italian titles, achieved a number of podiums at World Cup occasions, and is getting ready for his subsequent problem: The Ironman Cervia in Italy, a grueling competitors that features swimming 1.5 km, biking 40 km, and operating 10 km.
“I like challenges. It all the time motivates me to have new targets to attain,” he informed The Dog People. “I just like the work behind the races, the coaching and above all, the fixed want to problem myself and overcome my limits.”
Andrea Pusateri overcame private tragedy to turn into a profitable Paralympic athlete. Photo courtesy of Andrea Pusateri
Family and mates have been his biggest help—“The household has all the time supported me in any of my craziness and offers me that further vitality to face every little thing”—in addition to his canine, Maya and Sally.
Since he was small, Pusateri needed a canine of his personal, and a few years in the past, that dream got here true. First he welcomed house Maya, a Golden Retriever.
Andrea Pusateri cuddles his Golden Retriever, Maya. Photo courtesy of Andrea Pusateri
A number of months later, he expanded his pack to incorporate Sally, a Bernese Mountain Dog.
“They have an necessary position in my life. It is a particular bond,” he stated. “Since they’re right here, my life obtained higher.”
Andrea Pusateri loves mountaineering together with his canine, Maya and Sally. Photo courtesy of Andrea Pusateri
The two canine have distinct personalities. Maya, 2 years previous, is extra impartial and playful. Sally, 1 ½ years previous, is his “shadow,” sticking shut. She could be shy and cautious, however loves being cuddled.
Pusateri’s followers on Instagram love seeing photographs and movies of Maya and Sally mountaineering with Pusateri in beautiful places. Their trusting bond is so robust that the canine typically take turns strolling between his braces—the place his proper leg was once.
“With them I like doing lengthy walks and discovering new locations. They come alongside for each journey and journey of mine,” he stated. “Sometimes I simply want wags or a glance from them to get better from a tough day.”
What he loves about his canine can be what he loves about canine generally: their unconditional love.
“The love that you just obtain from animals is unimaginable, and canine are magnificent companions for all times,” he stated.
Paralympic athlete Andrea Pusateri shares a particular bond together with his canine, Maya and Sally. Photo courtesy of Andrea Pusateri
That love ought to present a lift as he strives to attain much more and to reside life to the fullest.
“My targets for the longer term are to reside 101 p.c within the current, and be blissful and at peace with my household and my canine at my aspect, touring and discovering new locations and all the time searching for challenges,” he stated.
As for Pusateri’s fervent perception that “unattainable is simply an opinion”?
“The limits are solely in our heads. We can all obtain our targets. The necessary factor is to need it—to all the time attempt with out setting limits,” he suggested.
He hopes his story conjures up others to consider in ourselves. He says every considered one of us is exclusive and particular, and we should always by no means let anybody inform us that we will’t do one thing.
Pusateri stated the extra we keep away from doing one thing, the larger the concern of doing it turns into, so we should always face these fears and check out.
“There will all the time be some sudden occasions each in sport and in life,” he stated. “We should not be discouraged and all the time go ahead.”
Andrea Pusateri competes within the Ironman Cervia on September 18, 2021. Follow him on Instagram at: instagram.com/pusateriandrea
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