"Happiest man ever since": The Challenge 40 star Nelson Thomas recalls his amputation

The Challenge 40 star, Nelson Thomas, recently appeared in an interview with People Magazine on December 16, 2024. During the interview, he recalled his foot amputation and shared how his life has changed ever since.

Fans must remember how The Challenge 40 star's right foot was amputated after his car accident on March 5, 2024. Referring to waking up post-surgery and his foot amputation, Nelson Thomas said that it was an emotional moment for him.

However, since then, he has set goals for himself, and for the amputation, he mentioned:

"Growing up in this generation as a man, we don't want to show fear, we don't want to shed tears. But we need to let those things out because that's when you find your true self. The day I cut off my foot, man, I never looked back. And I've been the happiest man ever since."

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The Challenge 40 star Nelson Thomas shares his goal for the 2028 Paralympic Games and more

During his December 16, 2024, interview with People Magazine, 36-year-old The Challenge 40 star recalled setting a goal for himself. Nelson Thomas shared that nine months after his foot amputation, he had set a new goal, i.e., to participate in the upcoming 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

"I knew what kind of life I wanted to live. I knew my journey wasn't done. I knew that God gave me a second chance and that he's using me as a vessel to inspire others," he shared.

Referring to losing a foot, Thomas mentioned that the experience has been a "crazy rollercoaster." Since his amputation surgery, the recovery has been both physically and mentally struggling.

However, Thomas had different thoughts, as he mentioned thinking:

"I'm not going to let having one foot stop me from doing what I love."

To reach his goal, The Challenge 40 star reached out to fellow below-the-knees amputees and those who were Paralympians. He also mentioned joining a 10-week gym program in September 2024 and referred to a community. He mentioned that it pushed him in "new ways."

After his research, he joined the Adaptive Training Foundation (ATF), an NGO specializing in functional training and rehabilitation. He wanted to pursue this full-time, so he moved to Dallas from Texas.

Recalling the basic training with ATF, Thomas mentioned re-learning, walking, crawling, running, jumping, and more. He mentioned that the concept was for his mind to understand that his body won't be able to "move" the same way "he was."

Thomas Nelson mentioned that it has been a "physical" experience that has also been therapeutic, mentally and spiritually. He also noted that he could return to The Challenge if he had such opportunities, as he was "very, very close" to winning.

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MTV will premiere The Challenge 40 Finale on January 1, 2025.