A young athlete, Aaron Fotheringham of Las Vegas Nevada, is the first person in the world to do a successful back flip somersault in a wheelchair. See the video and read an interview with this young athlete.

Las Vegas, NV and Corona, CA (PRWEB) August 30, 2006 -- Aaron Fotheringham is one of a small, but growing group of elite wheelchair athletes. Aaron is a ‘wheelchair skateboarder’, or as he prefers to call himself, a ‘Hardcore Sitter’. Wheelchair skateboarders do with their wheelchairs, what other athletes do with their skateboards. They make spectacular leaps and jumps from amazing heights and try not to injure themselves in the process. But Aaron has accomplished feats in his wheelchair, which no person has ever done before. Last year, he astonished the community with a mid-air 180 degree turn. Then last month, at the age of 14, Aaron became the first person in history to do a back flip somersault in a wheelchair. See a Video of Aaron Fotheringham's Wheelchair Back Flip .

In a recent interview, Aaron discussed his record breaking backflip with Dr. Gene Emmer of NewDisability.Com. Aaron told NewDisability that it took about 50 or 60 jumps into cushions, before he attempted a jump onto a ramp. Then after another 15 further attempts, sometimes resulting in getting knocked out, he managed to make a successful landing. Since then he has accomplished about 20 to 25 successful backflips.


Others have tried to make the jump but, according to Aaron, have not gotten the full rotation even into the foam cushions.

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