Double amputee completes grueling 3-mile obstacle course

By Leo Black via SWNS

A double amputee who lost his legs after falling onto the New York subway tracks has completed a three mile run and obstacle course - including crawling through the mud and jumping over walls.

Roman Leykin, 36, suffered an epileptic fit on his commute to work in 2018 and fell onto the tracks of the New York subway.

He was hit by a train, lost both of his legs above the knee and suffered a brain injury.

But he completed the Gauntlet in Wallingford, Connecticut, in the scorching sun in approximately three hours.

Former software developer Roman, from Stamford, Connecticut, said: "The day of the gauntlet started off with the sun scorching.

"The race started more or less immediately and went right to D-Day, a mud crawl, and then a walk, and then a climb over the Stairway to Heaven, and more walking, and more sun."

The sun and heat turned out to be even more of a challenge as his prosthetics kept coming off which slowed down his progress.

He said: "It was so hot, my prosthetics kept coming off, so I would have to stop and put my legs on again, and walk a few steps, and go down, and put them back on again.

"Crossing the finishing line, I felt triumphant and exhilarating, since I did it under my own power and walked by myself with no assistance from my teammates."

Roman's recovery leading up to the point of finishing the course has been a long and incredibly hard battle.

He added: "My traumatic brain injury was what kept me in inpatient care for a little over a year and two different clinics.

"That was a lot of relearning how to communicate: read, write, speak.

"Learning how to better use my prosthetic legs in walking more naturally has been an ongoing process.

"It started in January 2021 when I committed to using 'shorties' and no wheelchair," he added, referring to the shorter prosthetics he used initially.

No longer able to work after the accident, Roman became engulfed in sports, taking up cycling, rock climbing, and now, the obstacle course.

He said: “My friend Johnny Vaca introduced me to the Gaylord Specialty Healthcare clinic and I heard about the race on social media and I immediately signed up.

“I figured if I can get through a lot of the obstacles in the race, obstacles in real life will be a piece of cake."

To carry out the course on June 25, Roman received the support of his team from the Hanger Clinic, a prosthetics and orthotics company which he works with.

He had to avoid some of the obstacles the race threw at him and found unexpected difficulties, but he persevered and managed to reach the end.

This was no small undertaking. Roman knew that the race would require massive commitment, both for the actual day and preparation beforehand.

He said: "I did because most people have no idea what can be accomplished in my prosthetics with some hard work, dedication and relentless practice.

“I spent probably 90 hours preparing. The race itself lasted from 10:20 A.M. from my timeslot to when I ended, sometime in the early afternoon.

“I started going consistently to the gym and doing strength training exercises I knew would be beneficial in the gauntlet in March.

“[I did] different and unique bilateral above knee amputee exercises at the gym utilizing all equipment available to me and wore my prosthetic tech legs all day, every day.

“I also walked in my prosthetics in Central Park, specifically around the reservoir since it has uneven rocky terrain."

The race was a fundraiser for the Gaylord Specialty Healthcare clinic but it represents much more for some of their runners, like Roman.

“It has only strengthened my resolve to achieve greater things in life both physically and mentally," he said

“I thought I had what it takes to take on all the obstacles. Not yet. So now I have another reason to keep it going. Relentless forward positive momentum. Bring it on!”