News

Home

  • Live on Sky
  • Video
  • Get Sky Sports
  • Sky Bet

Pete Reed, triple Olympic gold medal-winning rower, paralysed after spinal stroke

Last Updated: 30/10/19 11:11pm

Pete Reed won three Olympic rowing gold medals before retiring last year
Pete Reed won three Olympic rowing gold medals before retiring last year

Triple Olympic rowing gold medallist Pete Reed has revealed that the spinal stroke he recently suffered has left him paralysed from below his chest.

The 38-year-old won gold at three consecutive Olympic Games - Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Reed, a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy, also won gold at five World Rowing Championships before retiring in 2018, having initially begun training for the 2020 Games in Tokyo.

View this post on Instagram

Public SitRep: Today is #WorldStrokeDay so I thought I would update you on my current situation. Spinal strokes are very rare. They essentially starve the spinal cord of oxygen which can kill off the cells that transmit the signals sent between the brain and (in my case) the lower body. Doctors can’t be certain what caused my stroke. It was in the middle of my spine so I’m currently paralysed beneath my chest. Prognosis: there is no crystal ball. There is a very small chance I will make no recovery and a very small chance I will make a full recovery. Much more likely it will be somewhere in between. To what extent depends on the extent of the damage (which we can’t see) and how well I rehab. All the other news is great. My arms are still strong and my brain is still as average as it ever was. My personal support network continues to be bombproof (thank you so much) and I am handling myself every bit as well as you would hope. I’m keeping a diary of this whole experience - the ups, downs, challenges, triumphs. I’ll keep odd posts coming. Until then, enjoy the rugby (if you’re going to spend a prolonged period in hospital, it may as well be during the 2019 Rugby World Cup). Onwards. • Thank you for all the comments on my last post. Thanks also to all of you who have offered to help... right now I don’t even know what to ask for. I feel like I have everything I need at this stage.

A post shared by Pete Reed (@petereed) on Oct 29, 2019 at 1:47pm PDT

He is now waiting to find out what the long-term effect of the spinal stroke will be after posting an update on his condition on his Instagram account.

"There is a very small chance I will make no recovery and a very small chance I will make a full recovery," he said in a post, having used his Instagram account on October 9 to confirm he had suffered a stroke.

"Much more likely it will be somewhere in between. To what extent depends on the extent of the damage (which we can't see) and how well I rehab.

"It was in the middle of my spine so I'm currently paralysed beneath my chest.

Also See:

  • Triathlete Danson paralysed after crash
  • 'Athletes need help with brutal system'

"My arms are still strong and my brain is still as average as it ever was."

A spinal stroke is a disruption in the blood supply to the spinal cord, although Reed says doctors do not know what caused his.

Trending

  • 1
    How Haaland would transform Chelsea
  • 2
    Lovren: England talent scary, Croatia love being dark horses
  • 3
    Spurs in advanced talks with Fonseca
  • 4
    Taking a knee: Fans' views revealed by survey
  • 5
    Euro 2020 fixtures & schedule for 2021 tournament
  • 6
    Transfer window open: 20 players who could move this summer
  • 7
    Rice hoping to celebrate Euros glory with first-ever pint
  • 8
    Why Claressa Shields is moving into MMA
  • 9
    Ashley receives boost to Saudi-led takeover hopes
  • 10
    Gary Neville's Euro 2020 preview
  • Video
  • Latest News

Around Sky Sports

Sky Sports

Get Sky Sports

Your sport. Your way. 8 dedicated channels

NOW

Stream on NOW

Live stream Sky Sports with a NOW Sports Membership

Competitions win prizes

Win Win Win

Win in our free to enter competitions section

WGT Golf

Free Golf Game

Play amazing courses on PC, tablet or mobile!

  • Home
  • Sports
    • Football
    • F1
    • Cricket
    • Rugby Union
    • Rugby League
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • NFL
    • Olympics
    • Tennis
    • Racing
    • Darts
    • NBA
    • Netball
    • GAA
    • MMA
    • More Sports
  • Scores
  • Video
  • TV
  • Sky Bet
  • Games
  • More
    • Transfer Centre
    • Live on Sky
    • Get Sky Sports
    • TV Shows
    • TV Guide
    • Sky Go
    • Now TV
    • Kick It Out
    • Black Lives Matter
    • Podcasts
    • Mobile
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Contact Us
    • Work @ Sky Sports
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Sky Sports
    • Get Sky Sports
    • Sky Sports Apps
    • Sportinglife.com
    • TEAMtalk.com
    • Football365.com
  • Partners
    • Sky Bet
    • Fantasy Football
    • Super 6
    • Planet Rugby
    • Golf365
    • Planet F1
    • Cricket365
  • Sky Sports Channels
    • Sky Sports Main Event
    • Sky Sports Premier League
    • Sky Sports Football
    • Sky Sports Cricket
    • Sky Sports Golf
    • Sky Sports Racing
    • Sky Sports F1
    • Sky Sports Action
    • Sky Sports Arena
    • Sky Sports News
    • Sky Sports Mix
  • More Sky Sites
    • Sky.com
    • Sky News
    • Sky Group
    • Sky For Businesses
    • Work @ Sky Sports
    • NOW TV
    • Sky Communal TV
    • Bigger Picture
    • Store Locator
    • Advertise With Us
    • Sky TV Accessories
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy & Cookies Notice
  • Privacy Options
  • Accessibility Information
  • Contact Us

©2021 Sky UK