‘Superhuman’ Tom one of best disabled athletes globally

A former soldier who has been hailed as “superhuman” for the progress he has made in his recovery from spinal cord injury is now officially one of the best disabled athletes in the world after his performance at the WheelWod Games 2022. 

Tom Green finished fourth in his category at the Games – hailed as the pinnacle event globally for adaptive fitness – which comes just over two years after being paralysed from the waist down when his bike was hit from behind by an articulated truck during a 100-mile charity cycle ride. 

Tom, a former physical training instructor (PTI) in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was competing in a category of the WheelWod Games for athletes who have hip function – even though his is minimal – to continue his course of defying all expectations. 

The Games, held in North Carolina last weekend, attracted hundreds of adaptive athletes from across the United States and wider world who use a wheelchair and live with a mobility-limiting disability, with Tom now confirmed as being among the very best of them. 

While Tom was warned by his medical team, he would never regain the ability to walk after his spinal cord injury in summer 2020, his dedication to regaining function in his lower body through intensive training has seen him make gains his rehabilitation team admit to believing impossible. 

Building on his background in elite fitness and the military, Tom has been unrelenting in his focus on his ultimate goal of being able to walk again, inspired to push boundaries and by his commitment to being the best father and role model for his four-year-old son.  

Despite the severity of his injuries, Tom – supported in his bespoke rehabilitation by Breakthrough Case Management – is now able to take steps independently using the support of parallel bars and continues to advance his progress further with regular walking in his Indego exoskeleton. He can also benchpress weights of up to 118kg. 

Now, having scored global success in his first attempt at the WheelWod Games, Tom is already looking to next year and beyond. 

On the Games, he said: “What an experience, it was a pleasure to share the dance floor with so many adaptive athletes, so many people that simply have not quit. 

“It was a great challenge, and more importantly I have highlighted some weaknesses to work on for next year. You either win or you learn!

“It was great to meet so many athletes who all have a backstory but refuse to let external factors decide their fate. When the odds are stacked against these individuals, they smile and say ‘Let’s dance’. 

“Bring on next year!”

Tom was accompanied to the WheelWod Games by his Breakthrough rehabilitation assistant, demonstrating the levels of ongoing and wholly bespoke support from the case management company. 

Annabelle Lofthouse, Tom’s case manager and co-founder and director of Breakthrough Case Management, spoke of her pride in her client’s ongoing achievements and his performance at the WheelWod Games. 

She says: “It is my absolute privilege to support Tom in his recovery and rehabilitation. I could not be more delighted by his success at WheelWod, which really is so very well deserved.

“Tom is rapidly becoming an inspirational and empowering figure as he continues to pursue new challenges. His positive mindset, unfailing determination and ‘can-do’ approach underpin his success; his reputation in the adaptive CrossFit and para-sporting world is certainly growing.

“Everyone at Breakthrough looks forward to cheering Tom onwards in 2023.”