XGames

  • All Sports
    • Skateboarding
    • Snowboarding
    • Surfing
    • Skiing
    • BMX
    • Rally/Moto X
  • Events
  • Photos & Videos
  • Athletes
  • Scene
ESPN
EnglishX
  • English
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish
  • German
  • Catalan
  • French

Barcelona '13 - Spain May 16-19

  • Top Video
  • Red Bull Phenom
  • Results
  • Real Women
  • HypeMeter
  • Pro Series
Save the Date X Games Barcelona 2013: May 16-19
cRally/Moto X
  • Share:
    • Z

      Subscribe to Channels

      Follow the latest videos of your favorite sport. Just click buttons on any sport.

      • Z
        BMX
      • Z
        Skateboarding
      • Z
        Surfing
      • Z
        Freeskiing
      • Z
        Snowboarding
      • Z
        Rally/Moto X
    • E
    • C
    • e
      • Pin It
      • Google+
      • Email
      Embed
    RVdA

    Myles Richmond's long road to recovery

    By Chris Elliott

    Published Friday July 13, 2012


    The last time we saw Myles Richmond, he was getting wheeled out of Staples Center on a stretcher. A last-minute addition to the Step Up competition, Richmond looked like he had the style and height to go to battle with the big two. Unfortunately, a mid-air stall sent him and his Honda nose diving to the ground.

    The end result was a broken left femur and badly broken right ankle. After having surgery and spending more than four days in the hospital, Richmond is finally home resting and getting ready for a second surgery and what is looking like a pretty lengthy recovery period ahead of him. Always in good spirits, we caught up with him to see how he was feeling.

    ESPN.com: Myles, how you feeling today?
    Richmond:
    Well, I am feeling a little better today. I just got home from the hospital, I was there for about 4½ days. Just being home makes me feel like I am kind of on my way to recovering quicker.

    That was a hard hit you took … we know the bike stalled mid-air, but did you stall it or was it a mechanical issue?
    Yeah, the bike did stall in mid-air. I still had a stock Honda clutch in my bike. Basically when I use a clutch, I only use my index finger. So when I pulled the clutch in, I must have not adjusted it correctly because the clutch didn't disengage properly. When I went to tap the rear brake, the bike stalled in the air, which then sent me into a nose dive.

    We heard it's an ankle and a femur … what's the outlook for Myles Richmond heading into the rest of the summer?
    Yes, I broke my left femur and right ankle. I got surgery Friday night [June 29] on both broken bones, but I have to go back in for a second surgery on my ankle. The ankle ended up being the worst injury of the two.

    As far as comebacks, I would really like to be positive and say I will be back on the bike before the end of summer, but I don't think it will be that easy. The bones I broke take a while to heal. I am just going to take my recovery one day at a time and try to heal back to 100 percent.

    So then you are not done for surgeries …
    No, unfortunately I have to do at least one more surgery on my ankle. I'm going to go see an ankle specialist since the bone I broke a bone doesn't heal very well. So I am going to try and get it done right the first time. The first surgery was successful though, it was to repair what I have in my ankle and stabilize it. So … so far, so good!

    Markus Paulsen/ESPN ImagesMyles Richmond, shown in Step Up at the 2011 X Games, says he's taking his recovery from a broken left leg and right ankle one day at a time.

    You looked great up until that point, you got in as a replacement for Mike Mason. Is getting the last-minute call like that an advantage in the sense of going in loose, no pressure with nothing to lose?
    Thanks for the compliment. No, I wish I would've known I was in it a while before the event. I know I can compete with those guys, but you can't just show up last minute. Preparation is a must, you definitely can't just show up and expect to jump with guys like Ronnie Renner and Matt Buyten.

    I am sure you watched the battle between Buyten and Renner by now … I know for me, I was scared for those guys after about 40 feet. What did you think of the size of the jump and the hits those guys were taking?
    I actually didn't get to see any of the X Games from my hospital room. They didn't have very good TV selections! But I did look up a few highlights and saw what Renner and Buyten were doing and it is nuts! I'm glad I crashed early is all I have to say, ha!

    Not sure how much of X you got to take in, just wondering if there was any event or trick that stood out for you?
    Like I said I [had] been in a daze the last couple of days so I didn't get to watch any of the X Games. Just a few highlights on TV so that's about that. I would have to say I am pumped for Mike Mason for winning Speed & Style! The guy works hard and is one hell of a stand-up guy!

    What do you have planned for the rest of the summer now that you are laid up?
    As of right now I have to do a lot of physical therapy. But I am going to turn this into a positive and get myself back to better shape than ever before. I really don't know what the next little while looks like for me, maybe venture into different goals and opportunities. Not too sure, just thinking about some other stuff!

    I know it's still fresh, but are we going to see you back in Step Up next year?
    Not sure with that. Like I said, I have to be back healthy by the end of the year before I start thinking about that!

    dRelated

    • 1V

      Stepping up at X Games Barcelona

      X Games Barcelona comes to a close with the most jaw-dropping discipline of all: Moto X Step Up
    • 2R

      Ronnie Renner Wins Gold in Moto X Step Up

      Ronnie Renner wins gold medal in Moto X Step Up at X Games Barcelona 2013.
    • 3R

      Edgar Torronteras wins Moto X Whip

      Edgar Torronteras earns top vote in Moto X Whip at X Games Barcelona 2013.
    • 4R

      Laia Sanz Gold Medal Interview

      Laia Sanz talks about how she won gold in the Ford Women's Enduro X at X Games Barcelona 2013.
    • 5R

      Best of Moto X Freestyle Demo

      High winds cancelled the Moto X Freestyle competition but the riders put on a small demo for the fans.
    • 6R

      Laia Sanz wins Enduro X gold

      Laia Sanz wins the gold medal in Ford's Women Enduro X final at X Games Barcelona 2013.

    Use a Facebook account to add a comment, subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment, and may be used on ESPN’s media platforms. Learn more

a
H
My ChannelsNew
Site Terms

FOLLOW US

E
Facebook
C
Twitter
M
Google +
youtube
youtube
Follow
    Y
    Follow

    Follow the latest videos of your favorite sport. Just click buttons on any sport

    FOLLOW CHANNELS

    Use this menu to customize your viewing experience. Once you follow a sport, the newest videos will always be waiting for you in this menu.

    BMX

    Znot followed

    Skateboarding

    Znot followed

    Snowboarding

    Znot followed

    Skiing

    Znot followed

    Rally/Moto X

    Znot followed

    Surfing

    Znot followed
    ESPN.com: Help | Press | Advertise on ESPN.com | Sales Media Kit | Interest-Based Ads | Corrections | Contact Us | Site Map | Patents | Jobs at ESPN | Supplier Information
    ©2013 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information/Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to you. All rights reserved.