Brook MacDonald is one of the best downhill mountain bikers in the world and has snagged multiple podium spots on the UCI World Cup circuit since he began racing professionally in 2011. Known as “The Bulldog” for his fearless, full-throttle racing style, Brook is no stranger to injury, and 2019 saw the most brutal setback of his career so far. At Mountain Bike World Championships in Quebec in September, he fractured his spine in two places and lost feeling in his legs, leaving his future on and off the bike uncertain. 

In this interview, Payson sits down with Brook to talk about the injury and how the crash itself was just the beginning of a grueling saga that left him on the mountain and without sufficient medical help for nearly five hours. They talk about his recovery process and celebrating the little victories, which other athletes he’s taken inspiration from during this process, and why he isn’t afraid to start racing again. They also talk about his love of road racing and its importance in his training, and why you might be seeing him at the Olympics in the future in a completely different cycling discipline. A New Zealand native, Brook also shares some of his favorite (explicit) Kiwi slang, and why driving in the U.S. has a steep learning curve. 

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YouTube: Payson McElveen