In October 1994, 24-year-old Stuart Tripp was involved in a car accident when he veered off the road and into a tree. After spending several weeks in a coma, he woke to discover he had experienced right leg limb loss, head trauma, kidney failure and amnesia. Overweight and depressed, Stuart was introduced to Para-swimming before transitioning to handcycling in 2003. The Accidental Cyclist, Stuart rides for his mental health, and cycling is an extremely important part of his continuing rehabilitation / mental health balancing act to manage his depression and anxiety. Exceeding his own expectations, he made his Paralympic cycling …
Read MoreIn October 1994, 24-year-old Stuart Tripp was involved in a car accident when he veered off the road and into a tree. After spending several weeks in a coma, he woke to discover he had experienced right leg limb loss, head trauma, kidney failure and amnesia.
Overweight and depressed, Stuart was introduced to Para-swimming before transitioning to handcycling in 2003. The Accidental Cyclist, Stuart rides for his mental health, and cycling is an extremely important part of his continuing rehabilitation / mental health balancing act to manage his depression and anxiety.
Exceeding his own expectations, he made his Paralympic cycling debut at the 2012 London Games, finishing in the top 10 in both his races, the road race and time trial. Although Stuart describes these Games as an incredible experience, he lists his podium finish at the 2014 UCI Para-cycling Road Cup Time Trial in Segovia, Spain, his first time on the podium, as the highlight of his career so far. Winning silver there was even more impressive considering he lost a full 40 seconds because he veered off course.
Stuart again represented Australia at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio and placing seventh in the road race, one better than his London result, and winning silver in the road time trial.
In 2018 Stuart had his best year to date. Inspired by two-time Australian Road Race Champion Simon Gerrans and remembering a conversation they once had discussing what it takes to win big races, Stuart won the road race at the World Cup in Oostende, Belgium and went on to be crowned 2018 World Cup Champion.
At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Stuart competed in the men’s road time trial H5 event, finishing eighth in a time of 42:56:88. In the men’s road race H4 event, he finished seventh in a time of 2:36:23.
A jack of all trades, Stuart is a qualified plumber and has degrees in science and adult learning and development. He is also an accomplished author whose autobiography Travelling Hopefully was published in 2007.
Stuart lives in Bright, Victoria where he is supported by wife Gillean and young boys Malachy and Murphy. Stuart considers the local training environment as perfect to prepare him for being the best he can be.
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