An Edmonton man is making a comeback in the world of triathlons after a bad crash left him dealing with the aftereffects of a concussion.
Greg Shimizu was cycling as part of his training for a triathlon in 2012 when he was involved in a head-on collision with a van. The last thing he remembers is being at the top of a hill.
Shimizu was later diagnosed with a concussion and his partner, Twilla MacLeod, immediately noticed that something was different about him.
“It seemed like he aged 10 to 15 years,” MacLeod told CTV Edmonton. “He slowed right down, like his life force had just sunken in.”
According to Shimizu, he continues to suffer from headaches every day, resulting in an emotional, physical and mental struggle. However, he tries not to let the aftereffects get in the way of his love for competing in triathlons.
For the second time, the 53-year-old entered the ITU World Triathlon Series in Edmonton, hoping just to be able to finish the race.
Instead, he placed fifth in his group, qualifying to race in the world championships in Australia next year. He previously raced in the world championships in 2009.
“Maybe I might just consider returning there and return as the new me,” said Shimizu.
This time, he won’t just be racing for himself, but to help raise money and awareness for the Brain Care Centre in Edmonton, which he said has helped save his life.
With a report from CTV Edmonton’s Angela Jung
