Jay Baker - Athlete, Cyclist, Trail Runner, Mother & Survivor

07/05/2025

Please be aware that this article contains medical imagery that may disturb some viewers.

From the beginning of my time I have always been an active athlete. I spent my childhood running, cycling and competing. I had a bright future in sport.

Until, in October 1997, at the age of 16, I was doing a post race recovery ride when I was hit by a car travelling over 100km/h. I was thrown 30m and left for dead on the side of the road. As the story goes, a garbage truck found me and I was airlifted to hospital where I was put into an induced coma. My body and legs were so badly damaged the easiest option was to amputate both legs at the knees.

However, the scrub nurse recognised me from a duathlon I competed in the day before and told the surgeon I was an athlete. The surgeon worked tirelessly for 8 hours to put me back together.

Then, the recovery started. I spend the next years in and out of hospital having countless operations on my legs. Operation, recovery, operation, recovery. I had setback after setback. Pain after pain. I had to learn to walk again. The dream of running was never in sight. I just wanted to walk without a limb and be “normal” again. It was the hardest challenge of my life. To live!

Until, I found trail running. This sport has given me the freedom to feel alive and feel connected to Mother Nature. I run today with so much gratitude for my working body, my legs and my second chance to life. I am in awe of my body and how it has healed. I live everyday to its fullest because we are not guaranteed tomorrow.

I am going to embark on the next biggest challenge of my life. I am going to test my body and mind as I run 520km. The world’s longest single track event - Canal Aventure, The Track. From Alice Springs to Uluṟu. I have done the hard work and will share every footstep with my friend Sia Kindberg.

I will be running for all the people who have been part of this story for a short or long chapter. I will be running for my children, my family and friends who are my biggest supporters. I will be running for my younger self who never thought this would be possible and for my now self who is strong and brave.

I carry the scars, the pain and reminder everyday but I am the narrator of my own story. This is my story. I am real, raw and ready to run!