In this Tuesday, December 21st 2010 file photo, Monique van der Vorst poses in front of her wheelchair at the Olympic stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The 27-year-old Dutch athlete has been signed by the Rabobank women’s team, meaning the former wheelchair and handcycle racer will now line up against elite able bodied riders. Van der Vorst lost the use of her legs as a young teenager following ankle surgery. Her drive and determination quickly saw her winning handcycle races and earned her two silver medals in the handcycling road race and time trial at the Beijing Paralympics. Last year, after a crash in training, she began getting the feeling back in her legs and eventually managed to walk again. |
