Matthew Long is a New York City firefighter who was at the World Trade Center on 9/11, and that experience made him resolve to always be in peak physical condition so he'd be ready for anything. As a result, Long started competing in triathlons.And then, in 2005, he was run over by a New York City bus.
It's important, Long says, to note that he wasn't just hit by the bus, he was run over by the bus -- pinned underneath it and impaled on the bicycle he was riding until rescue crews could remove him and rush him to the hospital, where doctors told his parents they thought he had a 1% chance of surviving.
But after months in the hospital and 40 surgeries, he did survive. And as the profile of Long that airs on HBO's Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel Tuesday night shows, he did a lot more than just survive.
Through an exhausting regimen of physical therapy and hard-core training, Long re-built his badly mangled body to the point where he ran the New York City Marathon in 2008, three years after the accident. And after he completed the marathon, he decided that he couldn't stop there, and he got himself all the way back into Ironman Triathlon shape, completing last summer's Lake Placid Ironman -- a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26-mile run -- in under the Ironman time limit of 17 hours.
Not many people can complete an Ironman, and it's hard to imagine anyone completing an Ironman after going through what Long went through. But Long is an inspiration, and the Real Sports segment is a good look at a man who refused to quit.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Wow!!! What the hell is this man made of, Kryptonite?? To sum up this guy, I can do it with a 1969 song. The song by Jerry Butler, is titled 'Only The Strong Survive'. Kudos to his will and tenacity!! This goes to prove that if you want something bad enough, you can overcome any obstacles that are in the way.
While this man was rehabing his body after all those injuries, I wonder if he had the Rocky theme playing in his head, or ear. I think it is a very fitting song, considering what he went through. Need I say more?
His story was in Runner's World late last year. He ran the New York City Marathon and all of his friends,friends, co-workers, and strangers were there every step of the way to cheer him on. They story was amazing and truly inspirational. This story is even more of an inspiration. he has let nothing stand in his way or get him down. What a world this would be if we all had that much gumption. Huzzah Matthew!
Having such an amazing comeback like he did is very inspiring, along with the fact that he is a fireman, which is such a selfless career. I applaud him and his family for making it through. But, I can't get over the fact that he was riding his bike and got run over by a bus. In Chicago, so many bikers, athletic and not, try to outrun traffic. So many bus drivers are also insanely illegal drivers, so I'll bet it was a close call on who was in the wrong. I hope for his sake that he was acting within the law when his accident did happen, because his credibility goes out the window otherwise. You wouldn't stick up for a drunk driver who crashes, is given a 1% chance to live and then does. I'd really like to see this guy speak out for bicyclist rights and rules of the road now that he's physically better. It would only help the situation in busy cities where drivers and bicyclists alike act like they own the road and end up hurting each other.
KUDOS to Matthew Long! Not only does this man obviously have and incredible will to live, but a will to live to the VERY BEST OF HIS ABILITY! Stories like his should be much more common in the news - it reminds us that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, and there should be no such word as "can't!" Truly inspiring man and story! This made my day!