John Maclean conquers personal Everest by completing Nepean triathlon on bruised and bloodied feet

JOHN Maclean wobbled on bruised and bloodied feet across the finish line of the Nepean Triathlon around 1pm on Sunday. That was when his tears stopped.

MIRACLE MAN JOHN MACLEAN AT NEPEAN TRIATHLON

JOHN Maclean began crying just after 6am. He was still crying at 9am, 11am and noon. But when this incomplete paraplegic wobbled on bruised and bloodied feet across the finish line of the Nepean Triathlon around 1pm yesterday, the tears stopped.

With the same steely determination that saw this former league player carve out a full and successful life after being hit by an eight-tonne truck in 1988, Maclean dropped his walking sticks and staggered across the finish line holding the hands of his wife and son.

“That was absolutely one of the best moments of my life,” he said.

Well done!... Wheelchair athlete John Maclean with his wife Amanda and son Jack. Photo: Brett Costello

John is congratulated by Steve Waugh

John finishing the swim leg.

John with son Jack and wife Amanda goes the distance. Pic Brett Costello

It was a gold medal moment in the extraordinary life of a man who has spent the last 26 years in a wheelchair, a man giving hope to the likes of injured NRL player Alex McKinnon after rising from his chair to walk again.

“This is the hardest thing I have ever done,’’ admitted the multiple Paralympian and world medallist.

When things got tough he stopped and kissed his wife Amanda. When things got tougher he thought of his four-year-old son Jake.

Thanks to tremor therapy McLean, who punctured a lung and broke his back, ribs, pelvis and both arms 26 years ago, was doing what he never thought he could — walk. And yesterday he wobbled his way to the finish of the Nepean Triathlon, refusing to sit in his wheelchair at the end of the 1km swim, 30km cycle and 10km run so he could savour the moment. “I am one lucky man,’’ he said.