John Maclean

'John,' he said, 'I'm dying and I'm incapable of bullshit, so let's get on with it … The best thing that ever happened to you was getting hit by that truck.'

I felt somewhat stunned by that, but Maurie wasn't finished.

'The next best thing that happened to you was crashing at the Olympics. Maybe that will make you realise that life doesn't revolve around John Maclean.'

He was right.

You can count on one hand those who've had what it takes to both swim the Channel and complete the Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon, one of the world's most demanding tests of endurance. John has completed the Hawaii Ironman three times.

He represented his country at the 2000 Olympic Games.

In 2006 he took part in the invitation-only extreme endurance event Ultraman World Championships, in Hawaii.

He was recently invited into the sport of rowing. In September 2007 he and his rowing partner claimed a silver medal at the Rowing World Championships. and a GOLD in Italy at the International Regatta in April 2008. They will represent Australia, going for gold in Beijing later this year.

He's done all this from a wheelchair: John is paraplegic.

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