PETE REED says he would not give up anything to “have my old body back” – almost seven years after he was paralysed from the chest down in a military exercise.
And as Britain’s three-time Olympic rowing champion makes a rare TV appearance in the commentary booth for the men’s 171st , he wants millions of fans to know: I’m doing well and life is great.
Pete Reed suffered a life-changing stroke in 2019Credit: Supplied
Reed, second from bottom right, is one of GB’s most accomplished rowers everCredit: Reuters
It has been a long journey to reach this point and inevitably, because of the freak spinal stroke he suffered in September 2019, he faces enormous physical and emotional challenges on a daily basis.
Yet not being able to walk again “doesn’t even come into the top five of things that I’d like to have back from pre-injury”.
In his predicament “your whole body speaks a new language” and there are frequent complications that arise from bladder and bowel management, poor circulation, slow skin healing and temperature regulation.
But he was supported throughout this entire episode by close friends, family, British Rowing – only Steve Redgrave (five) and (four) have won more Olympic rowing golds for – and the British Navy, who have made him an Honorary Captain.
Most significantly, the love of wife Jeannie was the shining light throughout – they are now kitting out their Devon home for wheelchair use – and the birth of son Fred in December 2023 filled his heart with joy.
Reed, 44, told SunSport: “I’ve never really looked back (from the injury).
“I wouldn’t give up anything I have now to have my old body back. I love my life now. None of it’s easy, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy.
“So, friends I’ve made through the injury and the places I’ve been to and the little human we’ve created, these things wouldn’t have happened. I wouldn’t give any of that up.
“This next chapter just felt like my fourth Olympiad. It just looked and felt different.
Reed competes at Rio 2016 prior to his strokeCredit: Getty
“In the first week in hospital, one of the amazing nurses explained that in medicine, bad things happen very quickly and good things take time.
“Typically it’s not weeks and months of rehab. Typically it’s four years before you get your life back in order.
“I remember smiling to myself, thinking ‘four years of graft and disappointment and setbacks’ – that’s normal business for me, as long as I’m prepared to move the goalposts. And I didn’t really look back.”
It was in September 2019 when Reed, then a Royal Naval lieutenant commander, felt severe chest pains like he was wearing an extremely tight seatbelt after a tough military course.
That evening he had pins and needles in his legs, fell out of bed “like Bambi” and struggled to pee – soon, he was unable to walk.
Doctors suspect he suffered a spinal stroke, which had occurred in the T6/T7 region, though any higher and it was tetraplegia.
Progress in the first year was slowed down by a bout of meningitis, a bladder infection and pressure sores.
Reed explained: “There’s a tiny bit of neural bandwidth that goes through my spinal cord.
“It means I’ve got a tiny little bit of movement on my right side, but nothing on my left.
“So unless there’s a medical intervention, a miracle cure that hasn’t come around yet, I won’t be walking again.
“But I don’t want in any way for people to think that’s a failure.
“The most important thing is I feel rock solid. Even through the rehab process, I felt very well supported.”
Only last week, Reed was in the snowy French Alps, bombing down the mountainside in his new passion of sit-skiing.
And on Saturday afternoon, he will provide expert analysis on the Boat Race, having lost (2004) and then won (2005) in the dark blue of Oxford in their annual battle with Cambridge.
Reed said: “I’ll quote (cox) Acer Nethercot, who said winning is unrivaled ecstasy and losing is the depth of despair. And he’s right.
“I remember the ride back after losing in 2004 and nobody said anything in the minibus. You felt empty, sick. All of that work. What the hell just happened?
“And then winning it, you just can’t think of anything else. It is unrivaled ecstasy. It’s amazing. It feels like you’re on a cloud.
“It’s worth the fight. It’s worth being in the race. And by God, it’s a hard race.
“My message is just enjoy it because I miss that. I don’t ever have pressure like that in my life anymore. And I really miss it.”
The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2026 on Channel 4, watch or stream on Saturday April 4 from 1.30pm.
Reed, 44, has found contentment in retirementCredit: Supplied
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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