54Freedom.com

Whizzing by in the VIP Olympics carpool lane in Beijing, Oscar “Oz” Sanchez never thought he’d be treated like a rock star.

Oscar Sanchez was paralyzed seven years ago in a motorcycle accident.

With a gold medal around his neck after winning the time trials in the Paralympics handcycling event, Sanchez recalls being swarmed by people.

“I was stuck in the double biceps picture position for hours,” said Sanchez, 33, as he hoisted both arms and flexed. “It was insane.”

On Sunday, the former Marine rode with amputees from the Center for the Intrepid, a San Antonio rehabilitation facility for troops wounded in combat, in the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon to support the disabled community and provide inspiration.

“My whole mission in racing is to not only be the world’s most renowned triathlete in the disability community, but in the process advocate hope for disabled folks and educate the public,” said Sanchez, who was paralyzed seven years ago.

Sanchez is a celebrity now in the disabled community. He’s also a major cog in an upcoming movie “American Paraplegic,” which chronicles the lives of paraplegic and quadriplegic athletes during a grueling 267-mile ride in Alaska and beyond.

One or the other

Challenges seemingly follow Sanchez. Born in East Los Angeles, his father was an alcoholic and his mother was abusive. Life outside home was pretty cut and dried.

“You either join a gang or you do sports,” Sanchez said.

He did both.

He played football, soccer and track at Whittier High School. He also was a member of the Brown Brotherhood, 40 Ounce Boys and the Whittier Barrio Locos.

Even his twin sister, Veronica, got involved in the wrong crowd. She is still living a hard path because of it, Sanchez said.

Drugs weren’t too far away, either. Sanchez said he was a “high seeker” and used crack and cocaine.

“I got to the point where it was do some time or do something with yourself,” he said. “That’s when I joined the Marine Corps.”

Adrenaline junkie

Sanchez remembers jumping out of airplanes and boats, climbing cliffs and having live rounds and grenades exploding around him.

No biggie. All Marines push the envelope.

“People do get jacked up by accident so you’re exposed to that kind of risk on a regular basis,” he said.

His accident happened July 28, 2001. On a beautiful Sunday morning, Sanchez was riding his street bike with buddies on Palomar Mountain in San Diego when a car ran him off the road and sent him over an embankment.

“There was this ditch area, a 12-foot drop, and it was mainly dirt and dead grass down there,” Sanchez said. “But there was this little pile of about four rocks and I landed on it on my back.”

He was briefly knocked unconscious. Numbness ensued. Then reality set in. Paralysis. From the thighs down.

He had surgery 11 days later. In the intensive care unit on the same day, he got married, something that was in the works even before the accident.

“Only through pictures was I able to remember my own marriage,” Sanchez said.

The self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie led a sedentary life for 18 months.

Video games and drinking were pastimes. After six months of sulking, Sanchez saw he needed to move on.

“My ability to cope with the depression was because in the Marine Corps you come to terms with injuries,” he said. “Not exactly that extreme of an injury but an injury.”

Sanchez went back to school, taking online courses at a community college.

His marriage didn’t last, but his resolve did. He graduated with a degree in business management and a minor in communications at San Diego State in June 2006.

Rolling on

Sanchez was always an avid cyclist and a dabbler in triathlons. He wanted that life back. During rehab, he spotted an adaptive bike.

It fit perfectly.

“I never thought I’d be a competitive rider in the sport,” Sanchez said. “I didn’t even know there was a sport in the Paralympics division.”

His first race was in the summer of 2003, the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon. He took second. By 2005, he made the U.S. Paralympics team.

Now he trains with able-bodied cyclists. He does pretty well.

“I’ll beat them on the flats, smoke them down the hills and I’ll race them up hills,” Sanchez said.

He can curl 50-pound dumbbells like toothpicks. He has custom-made cranks because he has snapped several during his career.

Sanchez said he thrives on people’s misery.

“When I see other people crying about how tough it is, I go, ‘Roll by you, baby. Roll by you,’” he said.

Inspiration

On Sunday, Sanchez tackled a new challenge: wheelchair racing. He entered the event not to compete but to support others.

He rode alongside Travis Dodson, who lost both legs in Afghanistan from a grenade explosion Feb. 24, 2007, for support in the 13.1-mile half-marathon.

“I was in awe of him,” said Dodson, a 23-year-old Marine who finished with a time of 1:16:34. “I just didn’t want to disappoint him or embarrass myself.”

Dodson was first introduced to the sport six weeks ago.

“It’s just another step to where I want to be — doing a full marathon,” he said. “Even when I had legs I never thought about doing a marathon. It’s incredible where life can take you.”

For more information about the movie, “American Paraplegic,” go to americanparaplegic.com.