MOSSEL BAY NEWS - At just 25, Henno Hendrikse lost full use of his right arm in a motorcycle collision. 

Now, at 28, he is set to compete in his first-ever Ironman 70.3, with a whole lot of determination and support that will see him across the finish line in Mossel Bay this week.

This past year, Hendrikse has had to teach himself and persevere through learning to swim and cycle with just his left arm. 

The para-athlete, who lives and works in Cape Town, said while much has changed over the last three years, his attitude to life and how he handles it has probably changed the most, especially over the last year. 

Three years ago, while riding along the Franschhoek Pass (R45), another motorcyclist riding in the opposite direction collided with him. 

That rider died upon impact. Hendrikse said he remembers waking up in hospital after a few operations, not really knowing the severity of his injuries.

“It was only a few weeks after the crash that we realised how severe the injuries were. The impact of the crash had torn my nerves out of my spinal cord. I am lucky to still have my right arm. There is blood flow, but there is no movement. It is dead and I carry it around in a sling,” he said. 

Henno Hendrikse will be competing in the Ironman 70.3 in Mossel Bay this weekend. Photo: Shane Williams 

As someone who had been a lover and rider of motorcycles from a young age, a sports player all through school and getting into the bodybuilding scene in the few years leading up to the crash, Hendrikse said he was hopeful about gaining some feeling back in his arm in the first year following the collision, but the second year was when reality hit. 

“The second year was probably the most difficult,” he said. “I had to accept what had happened. From the day of the accident, I had stopped being active. I didn’t want to go out. I felt like a burden to people. After those two years, I slowly started getting back to the gym. I started walking, and then I did a 5km run. Then I started parkrun, after that a 15km and after that, a halfmarathon.” 

Hendrikse had also tried and succeeded getting back on a motorcycle by this point. 

“One of my friends who had done a few triathlons asked if I would consider entering one, and I said yes, but wondered how the swimming would work for me.” It was soon after this that he got into a swimming pool and swam a lap.

“After one length, I though no, but a month or so after that, my friend said I was a strong runner, so I should try again.” Hendrikse was given the number of Cornel Botha, who manages the Tri3tribe Triathlon Academy in Cape Town. 

The academy’s members, especially Botha and Shane Williams, have played an enormous part in supporting him and motivating him along this journey. 

He signed up for the Ironman before he had sorted out the cycling part of the triathlon, but knew if he could get back on a motorcycle, he would be able to handle a bicycle. 

And he was. “It has been quite a journey, and I have had to think and find ways to do things differently from how I used to, to how others do things. You have to push through. There is always a way, you just need to find it.” 

To streamline his swimming, Hendrikse will be competing in this year’s Ironman by strapping down his right arm to his body. The cycle portion of the race will see him riding a bicycle of which all the controls, gears and brakes are operated on the left.

He said he still needs his right hand to be on the handle to help keep his balance. To do so, he will just attach his right hand to the bar with Velcro. 

“To me, the Ironman is another challenge that will prove there is no real difference between me and other people, you just have to find your way of doing things. I am motivated to move and do something different. Life changes so quickly. I am still trying to figure things out as I go, but I will not give up along the way.” 

The para-athlete said he hopes that there may be at least one person who reads or hears about his story and finds inspiration and motivation in it to conquer their own challenges. 

Hendrikse’s next goal is to complete the full Ironman, and then the Ironman World Championship. 

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