Former Mountain Biker set to Challenge Wheelchair Athletics at Canada Summer Games July 31, 2001 - A Cowichan Bay athlete is gearing up for his first big wheelchair athletics competition - the 2001 Canada Games less than a year after a tragic accident ended his mountain biking career. The 27-year-old wheelchair athlete was fighting fires in northern, BC less than a year ago and competing against top World Cup mountain bike racer Roland Green in the BC Cup Off Road Race series. Alan Bergman was sixth overall in 2000 but all that changed in a blink of an eye. "I worked on a rappel crew fighting fires last summer and they allow us to train from one to two hours a day to keep in shape," says Bergman. "I sprinted to the top of a mountain viewpoint and was taking in the view. I had a fear of heights so I thought I was far enough away from the cliff. I leaned on a tree to stretch, the tree was rotten and it gave way. Next thing I knew, I fell 60 feet, bounced around for another 20 and hit a tree. I crushed my L2 (lumbar) vertebrae. Unfortunately I was running alone." Bergman spent a month-and-a half at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre as an in-patient and the same amount of time as an outpatient. He decided right away to use his competitive spirit and take up a sport that was as close to cycling as possible. "No one tells you what being a paraplegic feels like," continues Bergman. "I had to change my mental state. I know I'll continue to grow. Cycling was able to take me throughout BC regionally but I think wheelchair athletics will take me around the world. I don’t expect to make a large impact in this sport right away. It took me five years of competitive cycling to get to the level I was at. I've got a good base from cycling but need to work on my arm strength." At the 1997 Canada Summer Games in Brandon, Manitoba, Team BC placed second overall with 262 points, 11 points behind Ontario. Team BC aims to improve on its Personal Best in 2001. The Canada Summer Games are being held in London, Ont., August 10-25, 2001 and will feature the best athletes from across Canada. British Columbia's Team BC a team of more than 350 athletes, 70 coaches and managers, and 23 mission staff members will field 22 teams in 17 sports. BC Wheelchair Sports Association recently launched their new website. For information on results, sports and elite athletes, contact www.bcwheelchairsports.com. For further information please contact: Gail Hamamoto Doré, Director of Sport Development BC Wheelchair Sports Association Tel: 604.737.3195 Email: ghd@bcwheelchairsports.com To contact Alan Bergman phone 250.748.7333.