On February 2, 2018, Rome Leykin suffered a seizure that caused him to fall onto the tracks in the New York City Subway. The accident left Rome without his legs, which are both amputated above the knee. He also suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Rome talks about the accident matter-of-factly, even mentioning that it was the that L-Train ran him over. You might think that would end Rome’s story, but you would be wrong! As a double amputee, Rome does more in a day than many people do in a month! The double amputee even competed in a Tough Mudder!
After his accident, Rome gained inspiration from other amputees competing and winning in foot races. Using specially designed prosthetic legs, these runners could compete on a level that seemed incredible to Rome. Some athletes who inspired Rome include Rudy Garcia-Tolson, who was born with a birth defect. Rudy has multiple para-Olympic medals and excels in many sports, including running. Another is fitness trainer Trevor Bunch, who helps other amputees concentrate on physical development. Trevor also runs marathons all over the country.
With inspiration like that, it is no wonder that Rome Leykin is competing and making the most of life even after such a devastating accident. We heard about the double amputee when he competed in an event called “Tough Mudder.”
Tough Mudder obstacle races are open in several distances, including 5K, 10K, 15K, and endurance events. The 5K event will not be available after the 2023 season. Rome Leykin participated in the 5K Tough Mudder. It may not sound like much until you check out the obstacles runners must overcome during each race. Runners crawl, climb, swing, and use every muscle to navigate the course. The image below shows Rome during a crawling portion of the race.
Some of the obstacle names include “The Block Ness Monster,” “The Mudderhorn,” and “The Kiss of Mud.” They are as difficult as they sound. And everything is muddy. Although each runner competes independently, it is common to help fellow runners so everyone crosses the finish line.
It is clear to see that Rome Leykin is not going to let being a double amputee stop him from winning at life! Eleven months ago, he competed in his second New York City Marathon in the hand cycle class!
One day, he wants to compete with prosthetic legs and continues training to meet that goal.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here and here.
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