In an edited version of his blog, Armidale's Sam Munday, 22 - who rides for American pro cycling team Team Novo Nordisk - has opened about living his diabetes and his recovery from serious injuries sustained when he collided with a car in training this year.
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I loved most sports and played football for 12 years. But when I started riding with my father and brother, I just fell in love with cycling. I found out about Team Novo Nordisk through Justin Morris, who previously raced for the team.
Like me, he also has type one diabetes, and raced professionally for five years. I got in contact with him through a diabetes educator back home in Australia. Meeting him gave me quite a bit of inspiration and a hope that I could one day make a career out of cycling.
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Up until then, doctors were quite negative. They didn't encourage me to do any sports. Hearing from him that anyone with diabetes can be a professional athlete was a real moment of clarity for me. I was 13 years old.
Over the next three or four years, I focused on school while doing local racing. Then I got invited to Team Novo Nordisk's talent ID camp, where I was asked to join the junior development team for some racing in 2017. Coming across Justin and Team Novo Nordisk has shaped my life and made a dream come true for me.
The only disappointment I have is losing my uncle a few years ago before he got to see me turn professional. I think of him and also my grandfather, who I also sadly lost to cancer, when I go through difficult moments like the last few weeks.
It was the second day of our training camp post-lockdown. We were one hour into the ride and doing individual efforts when I had an accident with a car. I remember everything up until hitting the car. Then I remember coming round to my teammates and managers trying to get me to breathe and relax while the ambulance was on the way.
And then it was determined I needed to be airlifted to the hospital. I was in so much shock and pain. It was quite a traumatic experience for everyone, especially for my teammates who were at the scene.
I had three fractures in my pelvis. My right lung collapsed, my collarbone shattered and separated the AC joint in the shoulder. Oh, and three ribs broke as well. The doctors said I'm extremely lucky to be alive.
I've been positive throughout the rehab. I know it could have been worse.
Since coming out of the hospital, the progress I've made every day has helped keep me motivated - from being able to take my first steps again to nearly walking comfortably. I almost have 90 per cent mobility back in my hip and shoulder.
Hopefully, it's just a matter of weeks before I can ride on the road again.
Right now, as I continue my recovery, I think about my dream: to win a big race with the Team Novo Nordisk Changing Diabetes jersey on and show the world anything is possible. To put my hands up in a big UCI race would be amazing. That's my big dream.
