The Challenge’s Nelson Thomas Wants to Compete in Paralympics After Foot Amputation: ‘I’m Chasing a Dream’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Nelson Thomas.Photo:Nelson Thomas

Nelson Thomas

On March 5, 2024 — the one-year anniversary of his near-fatalcar accident—The Challengestar underwent a foot amputation, which he says was the beginning of his second chance. The 36-year-old recalls waking up in the hospital after surgery and crying as he accepted his new reality.

“Growing up in this generation as a man, we don’t want to show fear, we don’t want to shed tears. But we need to let those things out because that’s when you find your true self,” he tells PEOPLE. “The day I cut off my foot, man, I never looked back. And I’ve been the happiest man ever since.”

“I knew what kind of life I wanted to live,” he adds. “I knew my journey wasn’t done. I knew that God gave me a second chance and that he’s using me as a vessel to inspire others.”

Thomas says it’s been a “crazy rollercoaster” ride adjusting to the loss of his right foot.

After surgery, he was desperate to get back to his past level of physicality. He admits that there were moments in his recovery where he struggled both physically and mentally, but, “I’m not going to let having one foot stop me from doing what I love,” he says.

Nelson Thomas.@anthonymortensen_

@anthonymortensen_

So, Thomas started reaching out to Paralympians and other below-the-knee amputees who were actively involved in athletics and competitive fitness training. Throughout his search, he came across Adaptive Training Foundation, a nonprofit organization that specializes in rehabilitation and functional training for athletes with disabilities.

After joining the gym’s 10-week program in September, Thomas says he found a community that’s pushed him in new ways. He even decided to move from Austin, Texas, to Dallas, to train full-time with ATF.

The experience was not only physical, but spiritually and mentally therapeutic.

“Having a strong community around you, people that believed in you, it really does a lot for a person,” he admits. “I was going there just for the physicality of moving in my prosthetic and being more agile and stronger and making a comeback. But when I walked through those doors, I walked out a whole different man.”

“I feel like I’m 10 times better,” he boasts. “It’s been a blessing, and I’m moving and grooving. Do I have a lot longer way to go? Yeah, we all do. I expect a lot more out of me. I’m not resting in the middle. I’ll rest at the end.”

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Nelson Thomas.Nelson Thomas

Thomas reveals that he also has a pretty big goal that he’s set now that he’s fully adjusted to his prosthetic, and his training has just begun.

“Another reason why I moved to Dallas is because I’ll be competing in theParalympicsin California in 2028. I’ll be doing the long jump and I’ll also be doing the 200,” he shares, proudly speaking the goal into existence.

“At the end of the day, you have to pull yourself out the mud. Nobody can do that for you,” he says. “And ever since then, I never looked back. I’m chasing a dream…It’s not over for me. This is just the beginning.”

“A lot of people want me to go back onThe Challengeand be the first below-the-knee amputee, but I want people to know that I’m not doing this forThe Challenge,” he explains.

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“Do I have some unfinished business onThe Challenge? Yes, I do. I want to go back onThe Challenge, but I feel like my purpose is bigger than that,” he says. “But if I ever had the opportunity and [hostTJ Lavin] gives me that phone call, hell yeah I’m picking up. I know I have what it takes to win. I know I was very, very close.”

“Nine seasons deep is crazy to me. Watchingseason 40, it hurts me sometimes. It really does because I know I should have been there. I know I should have been competing and I know that I took my gift for granted,” he continues. “It’s sad because we take things for granted until we lose them. But trust me, once you get it back, I ain’t never letting go and I’m holding tight as hell. And that’s just the truth.”

source: people.com