Nazim Erdem says his daredevil streak led him to dive off a pier into shallow water.
The dive almost killed the former amateur boxer and Richmond Reserves AFL footballer and left him a quadriplegic. He was just 20 years old.
The Roxburgh Park man said he made a decision that his accident wouldn’t stop him from living life to the full.
Two years after becoming a quadriplegic he started playing wheelchair rugby and in 1998 was named in the Australian team to play at the world championships.
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He has since represented Australia at four Paralympic Games and won gold in London.
On Australia Day, Mr Erdem, 45, was one of 25 Victorian sporting identities to receive a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
He recognises he is a role model on and off the field for young people who have sustained a spinal cord injury.
“The biggest struggle is not knowing what your future is going to look like,” he said. “I know it’s tough, but the future is bright.”
