Adelaide-born motocross rider Christina Vithoulkas was on a friend’s property in SA a fortnight ago when she fell off her bike during a failed jump.
The accident left her paralysed from the chest down.

“I instantly knew it wasn’t going to be a great landing and then everything was pretty much a blur,” says the 23-year-old who is originally from the Riverland in South Australia and has been a freestyle rider for almost five years.

“The minute I hopped on the bike I instantly fell in love with the sport and regardless of what happened, I still love my motorbike,” adds Christina, expressing her determination to take on her life’s new challenge and master her wheelchair until she is ready to eventually somehow get back on the bike.

“Every morning when I wake up, I think to myself, I have one life and two choices: To be happy and positive about life or negative and upset about my accident, but when I look around I am deeply grateful for the people I have in my life. There’s honestly no reason to be upset when I have so much support. What a waste of life and time that would be,” says Christina. Her parents, twin sister Irene, friends and fiancé James haven’t left her side since the day of the accident.

James had proposed to Christina almost five weeks ago.


“She is my soulmate. I love my girl and I’ll never leave her side,” says the 25-year-old excavator operator and part-time freestyle rider who has resigned from his work and will be Christina’s primary carer going forward.

“I am here to look after her and I am already planning our country home’s renovations, because the house needs to be specially fitted to cater for Christina’s injury.”
Although doctors delivered the devastating news that it was unlikely Christina would ever walk again, the thrill seeker has defiantly wowed everyone with her strength and courage.

“Every day that goes by I feel stronger mentally and physically and now I am convinced that my calling in life is to inspire other people, particularly young women, to be strong and to look at the brighter side of life,” she says.

Last Tuesday, the traffic controller supervisor flew back to Victoria (she moved from regional SA to Tongala almost a year-and-a-half ago) and plans to return to work after she spends three months in rehabilitation building up her strength.

“Work has already contacted me to let me know that they have made my office wheelchair friendly and that they are missing me. I am really looking forward to going back.”
The determined young woman refuses to let her injury stop her from living a full life admitting that her positive outlook comes from being raised in a happy family environment.

“Everyone keeps asking me where I get my strength from, but for me, it is just so simple. While growing up, my parents taught me to appreciate everything life throws at me and not to take my blessings for granted. I have travelled to 24 different countries, I have visited our beautiful island of Zakynthos and Greece three times and my mum and dad’s words are embedded in me.

“Be grateful for all that you have and never take life for granted,” concludes Christina whose family and friends held a charity ride in her honour last Sunday in Adelaide, raising almost $90,000 in an attempt to help out the young couple. If you wish to contribute visit https://www.gofundme.com/678x96o