Paralympic Games 2016: Samurai inspires Australian road cyclist Stuart Tripp to podium finish

AUSSIE cyclist Stuart Tripp says the inspiration behind his rise from “lost” car crash victim to Paralympic medallist is a 500-year-old Japanese swordsman.

Stuart Tripp leads the way in the H5 road race in Rio.

AUSSIE cyclist Stuart Tripp has revealed the inspiration behind his rise from a “lost” car crash victim to Paralympic medallist — a 500-year-old Japanese swordsman.

Men’s H5 time-trial silver medallist Tripp ended his Rio 2016 Paralympic Games campaign by finishing seventh in the road race on Friday after leading the field most of the way.

But the 46-year-old said the teachings of a 16th century ronin — a wandering samurai — left him well equipped to deal with any disappointment.

“A long time ago I was a little lost in life and read a little book by a guy by the name of Miyamoto Musashi,” Tripp said. “I read this book (The Book of Five Rings) that he supposedly penned and got a lot of inspiration from it.

“It certainly helped shape my philosophies in life. I read it probably about five years after I had a pretty bad car accident where I lost my leg and almost my life. I was in the wilderness, and that book gave me some inspiration to move out of it.

“I even got a tattoo of what he called the five elements of being. I needed myself to be brought back into being, and (the tattoo) reminds me of who I am now.”

As well as Musashi’s learnings, Tripp also calls on his wife for inspiration. Before races he listens to a playlist of songs from the pair’s wedding day as a final boost.

“It reminds me of my wife, how beautiful she is and how lucky I am,” he said.

Originally published as Paralympic Games 2016: Samurai inspires Australian road cyclist Stuart Tripp to podium finish