This is amazing!
On Wednesday I spent the day with Hector Picard. Hector is a 43 year old native Miamian, he is a triathlete, he shoots hoops, plays racquetball, and uses the weight machines at LA Fitness. Oh yeah and he is a bilateral amputee. Hector is missing both arms. His right arm is amputated at the shoulder and his left arm just below the elbow. But his "handicap" is about the last thing you notice about Hector. He is funny, determined, and a big sports fan. I was lucky enough on Wednesday to follow him around and watch him perform regular, everyday stuff and I realized one thing, he is better at all of them than me. Here is the full interview we had over lunch! I am asking the questions and he is answering them.
Q: Where you an athlete before your accident?
A: Yes. I played baseball growing up, some football, basketball. Yeah very active in sports. I was better at baseball.
Q: Have you ever thought about competing in the Paralympics?
A: What I noticed is the paralympics are either for somebody with one good arm and no arm or a leg. But not really a bilateral upper extremity amputee. I don't see what I could compete in, cause there's not really a big category for that.
Q: What are you trying to get accomplished with the videos we shot today?
A: I want other bi-lateral amputees like myself to know that they can accomplish things as well. But to inspire other people, anybody. Any able bodied person to say ok if this guy has a positive outlook on life and is able to play these sports aggressively and competitively, I can do the same.
Q: What is your ultimate goal athletically?
A: Be in good shape, and stay healthy. I wanna compete, I love the feeling of competing against other guys able-bodied or not. You know the whole neck and neck, and racing, I love it. I get a thrill out of it and it keeps me positive.
Q: How does that carry over to life?
A: Well if I succeed here, I can succeed in the business world because my competitive nature is there. It helps me. If I am healthy i will be able to perform at work as well. I can translate sports into everyday life!
Q: Do you prefer to compete against handicapped, or able bodied people?
A: I'd rather compete against able-bodied people. I love it. Knowing that I beat people that are able-bodied is a great thing. I look at the results and they tell me 674 out of 728, damn there is 600 and something people ahead of me, that I want to beat.
Q:Have you made any head-way on a golf prosthesis?
A: The problem with the golf prosthesis is that is going to take money, a little ingenuity, and some time.
Q: So what sport do you plan to conquer next?
A: Wakeboarding. It gonna be all me. It's gonna be fun. I may go out there and fall on my face, but I'll figure it out. I was watching the kids do it and I can do this.
Q: What is the hardest part of the triathlon physically?
A: Endurance, being able to handle the beating. Most everyone complains about the swimming. It is the hardest for me because I haven't perfected it yet. I haven't found a style that works for me. I can do it, I've done it twice now. But it is a physical drain.
Q: What about mentally?
A: I am afraid that if I push myself too much I won't be able to compete. I know that if I push myself the day of the competition I will hurt the next day. But I want to compete.
Q: Can you throw a football?
A: Yeah I can sling it around with my stump, with my arm. About 20-25 feet.
Q: Does it spiral?
A: No it wobbles. I can catch it. I will catch it five out of ten times.
Q: Do you believe that you are an inspiration?
(Long pause)
A: Not 100%. But yeah I think that I can inspire people because there is no stopping me. I can do anything. If I think it, if i plan it, I'll do it.
Q: Are you trying to be an inspiration?
A: Number one I am trying to see how much I can do. Inspiration is a result. It all comes down to being competitive. I hate people that see me on the street and say poor guy. That's horseshit.
Q: Who would you play one on one in any sport?
A: I would take Kobe on. I would love to take Kobe on.
Q: Would it be horse or one on one?
A: Shit, he's gotta give me a handicap, pardon the pun. (He laughs.) Horse, no dunks. (More laughing.)
Q: Sum up your message in one sentence.
A: Believe in your self, always.
I don't feel that I need to say much more. Hector's answers say a lot about him. He is charming and kind, and very self assured. I hung out with him that morning and I feel that his bone spurs bother him more than being a bilateral amputee. That says a lot about him. Live like no one is watching and "believe in yourself, always.
Hector is also on facebook and youtube, search "amputee triathlete", or "Hector Picard".If you want to learn more about Hector and his amazing ability check out these other sites.
www.sun-sentinal.com search Hector Picard
www.manwithnohands.com
Q: Where you an athlete before your accident?
A: Yes. I played baseball growing up, some football, basketball. Yeah very active in sports. I was better at baseball.
Q: Have you ever thought about competing in the Paralympics?
A: What I noticed is the paralympics are either for somebody with one good arm and no arm or a leg. But not really a bilateral upper extremity amputee. I don't see what I could compete in, cause there's not really a big category for that.
Q: What are you trying to get accomplished with the videos we shot today?
A: I want other bi-lateral amputees like myself to know that they can accomplish things as well. But to inspire other people, anybody. Any able bodied person to say ok if this guy has a positive outlook on life and is able to play these sports aggressively and competitively, I can do the same.
Q: What is your ultimate goal athletically?
A: Be in good shape, and stay healthy. I wanna compete, I love the feeling of competing against other guys able-bodied or not. You know the whole neck and neck, and racing, I love it. I get a thrill out of it and it keeps me positive.
Q: How does that carry over to life?
A: Well if I succeed here, I can succeed in the business world because my competitive nature is there. It helps me. If I am healthy i will be able to perform at work as well. I can translate sports into everyday life!
Q: Do you prefer to compete against handicapped, or able bodied people?
A: I'd rather compete against able-bodied people. I love it. Knowing that I beat people that are able-bodied is a great thing. I look at the results and they tell me 674 out of 728, damn there is 600 and something people ahead of me, that I want to beat.
Q:Have you made any head-way on a golf prosthesis?
A: The problem with the golf prosthesis is that is going to take money, a little ingenuity, and some time.
Q: So what sport do you plan to conquer next?
A: Wakeboarding. It gonna be all me. It's gonna be fun. I may go out there and fall on my face, but I'll figure it out. I was watching the kids do it and I can do this.
Q: What is the hardest part of the triathlon physically?
A: Endurance, being able to handle the beating. Most everyone complains about the swimming. It is the hardest for me because I haven't perfected it yet. I haven't found a style that works for me. I can do it, I've done it twice now. But it is a physical drain.
Q: What about mentally?
A: I am afraid that if I push myself too much I won't be able to compete. I know that if I push myself the day of the competition I will hurt the next day. But I want to compete.
Q: Can you throw a football?
A: Yeah I can sling it around with my stump, with my arm. About 20-25 feet.
Q: Does it spiral?
A: No it wobbles. I can catch it. I will catch it five out of ten times.
Q: Do you believe that you are an inspiration?
(Long pause)
A: Not 100%. But yeah I think that I can inspire people because there is no stopping me. I can do anything. If I think it, if i plan it, I'll do it.
Q: Are you trying to be an inspiration?
A: Number one I am trying to see how much I can do. Inspiration is a result. It all comes down to being competitive. I hate people that see me on the street and say poor guy. That's horseshit.
Q: Who would you play one on one in any sport?
A: I would take Kobe on. I would love to take Kobe on.
Q: Would it be horse or one on one?
A: Shit, he's gotta give me a handicap, pardon the pun. (He laughs.) Horse, no dunks. (More laughing.)
Q: Sum up your message in one sentence.
A: Believe in your self, always.
I don't feel that I need to say much more. Hector's answers say a lot about him. He is charming and kind, and very self assured. I hung out with him that morning and I feel that his bone spurs bother him more than being a bilateral amputee. That says a lot about him. Live like no one is watching and "believe in yourself, always.
Hector is also on facebook and youtube, search "amputee triathlete", or "Hector Picard".If you want to learn more about Hector and his amazing ability check out these other sites.
www.sun-sentinal.com search Hector Picard
www.manwithnohands.com
Labels: amputee triathlete, bilateral amputee, Hector Picard, Kobe Bryant, LA Fitness
posted by belly up at
9:31 PM
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