Aussie Paralympian conquers 96 km jungle trek
AFP Global Edition | 2009-11-18 08:10:24
<div><p>Australian Paralympian Kurt Fearnley completed a gruelling 96 kilometre (60 mile) crawl along a jungle trek on Wednesday, just weeks after taking the New York marathon wheelchair title.</p><p>The three-time Paralympic gold-medallist, who was born without the lower part of his spine, said hauling himself on hands and knees along the famed Kokoda track was the biggest challenge of his life.</p><p>"Mate, I just was hurting. It was the toughest thing I've ever done," he said.</p><p>Fearnley spent 10 days completing the rugged and demanding track, site of a World War II battle between Australian and Japanese troops, to raise money for charity.</p><p>"We made it," Fearnley said in a post to his blog from the jungle track. "Sitting at Owers Corner enjoying a couple of beers. Mum and Dad are here. Amazing experience -- I?m so happy we?re here."</p><p>Fearnley, 28, conquered the route with specially-made shinpads and padded gloves and after 12 months of training.</p><p>He has enjoyed a stellar career in wheelchair athletics including marathon and 5,000-metre gold medals at Athens in 2004, marathon gold last year in Beijing and two silver medals at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic games.</p><p>Fearnley has bagged four consecutive New York Marathon wheelchair titles, the most recent just three weeks ago.</p><p>"To call him a superhero or superhuman is not too far from the truth," said trek leader Wayne Weatherall.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=63646275&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>
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