Monday, February 13, the Sentul Circuit was not found in the morning sun. The drizzle that dries slowly changes to a thicker rain.
Under the roof of the Sentul circuit, three people were ready to wear bicycle costumes. After filling the time with jokes, the sky began to look friendly.
The three figures then smiled. They then changed the footwear from sports shoes with special bicycle racing shoes.
One of the three people, changing his shoes in the back of the car. He can wear shoes right next to him easily and quickly. As for the left shoe, he tried a little harder. His left thigh muscle was tight when he wore the left shoes. Only his thigh muscles, because that's all he has.
That figure is Muhammad Fadli Immamudin. In the world of bicycle racing, the name Fadli is nobody. But if you ask about Fadli in the world of Indonesian motorbike racing, then many know and can explain his greatness.
But Fadli is no longer on the road in the world of motorcycle racing. Fadli wants to pursue a new world, with new challenges, as well as new feet.
New legs. Fadli's left foot is a fake leg. A memento of an accident, also a proof of courage.
"I crashed there," said Fadli, laughing, pointing to a point in the Sentul Circuit.
No burden. Without excessive trauma.
Farewell to the Left Foot
June 7, 2015. Happy Fadli turned into a tragedy in the blink of an eye.
Fadli had crossed the finish line and was confirmed as the winner in the Asia Road Race Championship. Fadli saw a number of fans waving a few hundred meters from the finish line.
Fadli pulled over and gave a reply to them. Unexpectedly, a few seconds later the happy moment turned into sorrow.
The Thai driver, Jakkrit Sawangswat, suddenly speeded up and hit Fadli's left foot. Fadli bounced off the motorbike and then sat holding his knee.
"The accident was very strange. When I slowed down the motorbike, I was already several hundred meters after the finish line. Then suddenly there was a motorbike that was still speeding and hitting me. "
"After I fell I realized I had a serious injury because of the amount of blood flowing. I tried to stay awake and not faint, "said Fadli in remembrance.
The days after June 7 later turned out to be days of long struggle for Fadli. The injury was very serious and threatened the condition of his left foot.
Many of the fractures in Fadli's left leg and he continued to undergo a series of treatments and therapies to make his left leg function as before.
"I even had a transplant from my right foot to my left leg. In the process, my right and left legs had to stick for several weeks. "
"After a few months, my bones have begun to connect, but my nerves cannot go back to normal. I don't want to continue in uncertain conditions. I decided to amputate, "said Fadli.
Without amputation, Fadli will still have a left foot, but will no longer function. Fadli chose to part with his left leg and start a new page in his life.
Full days of struggle
Since the accident, Fadli spent time in bed for six months. After his left leg was amputated at Medistra Hospital on January 4, 2016, Fadli did not immediately recover as before.
"I lay in bed for six months, with that condition, when I sat down I was dizzy, let alone trying to get up and get out of bed," said Fadli.
But Fadli did not want to spoil the situation. The strong determination that was in him to recover he maintained it consistently. Fadli wants to be able to return to activities as usual.
"A few weeks after the accident, my child was born. He is an encouragement. I am determined to be able to walk again before my child can walk, "said Fadli, smiling.
Fadli may lose his left foot, but not a winning mentality. Fadli, with a fake left foot, managed to walk again as usual. Not only running, Fadli was also skilled in driving a car and riding a motorcycle.
"I didn't need long to get back in the car because my car had an automatic transmission. For motors, I move the gear transmission from left to right. So I can also ride a motorcycle again. "
"All the adaptation processes to get back to normal will certainly cause pain, especially because my muscles run out and are not left over during my bed rest. But I am sure I have an athlete's mentality and can fight, "said Fadli.
"A few weeks after the accident, my child was born. I was determined to be able to walk again before my child could walk" said M. Fadly
Months later, Fadli began to regain the muscles that had disappeared on his body. Fadli then was not satisfied to just be able to walk normally, drive a car, and also a motorbike.
Fadli then tried pedaling his bicycle. He wants himself to be really fit as usual. In December 2016, Fadli became more routine cycling.
"As a motorcycle rider, I have long been accustomed to bicycle sports to maintain stamina. With prosthetic legs, the power in the left leg certainly rests on the thigh muscle. "
"I can fight balanced against my friends who have normal body conditions. But at that time I hadn't thought about competing, "said Fadli.
Back in the arms of the competition
The champion mentality in Fadli led him to rise from the embrace of a severe injury that was shackled. And this winning mentality also brought Fadli back into the arms of an official competition.
"Chairman of PB ISSI, Pak Raja Sapta Oktohari offered me to take part in the Asia Cycling Championship. So since the beginning of this year I have been training more intensively to face the championship, "said the 32-year-old man.
Fadli really made peace with the situation. The accident two years ago no longer haunts and drags him in despair. The real proof is the courage Fadli continued to practice at the Sentul circuit where he lost his left foot.
"I am normal now because I consider whatever trials are given, so that means I am considered capable of passing it. I also have no grudge against Sawangswat. I once met him, but he felt awkward and awkward, even though I didn't feel anything, "said the man born on July 25.
Ambition and dream. These are things that maintain sanity in Fadli. Amid his fall as a human, Fadli never released dreams in his brain.
"After the disaster, I continue to motivate myself. Starting from wanting to get back on track, then want to ride a bike, and after this I hope I can run again. "
"If there are motivations and dreams that are intended, then it will cause enthusiasm to continue fighting. At the moment, I am even more eager to practice bicycles because there are many competitions that I will follow after this, "said Fadli.
Fadli taught that adversity is not an eternal verdict. Every human being can come out from behind the shadow and return to shine under the light.
The true champions are not only those who have medals, but also those who can inspire.
Fadli is one of the best examples for it all.
I have quoted some of this paper in the CNN version of Indonesian
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