For any athlete, it is a huge misfortune to get an injury right before a big game. But two-time U.S. Olympian Jamie Nieto, who is a high jumper, is praising God for keeping him alive despite being paralysed with a neck injury.
It might be heartbreaking for Nieto to miss out on this year's Summer Olympics in Rio. But despite being confined to his hospital bed, Nieto is displaying a sunny disposition, according to CBN News.
"I'd definitely like to thank God that I'm still alive," he said. "I just want to thank everybody for your support. I thank God that I'm alive."
Nieto, 29, competed during the 2004 and 2012 Olympics. During his illustrious career, Nieto won three U.S. outdoor and one indoor national titles and achieved a personal best of 7'8″ (2.34m) to take fourth at the 2004 Olympics before retiring and becoming a coach in 2013, according to Letsrun.com.
He always finished his competitions by waving to the crowd and performing a back flip. But on the afternoon of April 22 this year, after wrapping up practice with of fellow athletes at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California, Nieto attempted a back flip but failed to bring his entire body around and landed on his head.
Doctors said one of his discs slipped and hit a nerve, adding that it was an "incomplete sever," which means little hope for a quick recovery.
Even breathing and eating have become difficult for Nieto.
"My breathing is a little hampered, but that's getting better every day," he said. "And my eating and swallowing is a little hampered, but that's getting better every day."
Even though the road to recovery is long and difficult, Nieto is optimistic that with God's help, he will show progress. "I've done everything I can do physically, mentally, but not spiritually," he said. "I've been praying, I've been reading the Word because I want to be ready physically, mentally, and spiritually."
Many sports fans believe that injury will at least slow down Nieto's athletic career.
But the Christian athlete has a different view on what happened to him. He sees it as an opportunity to spread God's love and kindness. "I want people to see that I'm blessed," he said. "I want them to see God exuding out of me—my relationship with Him exuding out of me. When they see me jump I want them to know that God is working through me right now."
