Triple Olympic champ and rowing hero Pete Reed paralysed from chest down after freak stroke in back and may not recover

LONDON 2012 Olympic hero Pete Reed has revealed he is paralysed from the chest down after a freak stroke in his back.

Reed, 38, is one of Team GB’s most successful rowers ever with three gold medals across three Games.

A Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy, Reed retired after Rio 2016 — clinching gold in the coxed eight.

But after revealing his plight on October 9, he confirmed the news on Tuesday that he has been paralysed from the chest down.

Reed said on Instagram: “There is a very small chance I will make no recovery and a very small chance I will make a full recovery.

“Much more likely it will be somewhere in between.

“To what extent depends on the extent of the damage (which we can’t see) and how well I rehab.

“All the other news is great. My arms are still strong and my brain is still as average as it ever was.”

Support and best-wishes poured in from fellow Olympians and sporting stars for Reed, who was born in Seattle.

He is the second Rio 2016 champion paralysed after German cyclist Kristina Vogel was rendered wheelchair-bound following a horrific accident in training.

There had been rumours reed would attempt to train for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, but he denied comeback talk recently after revealing he needed to be on anti-doping tests for a year before rowing again.

DOCTORS BAFFLED

Fellow rowing ace James Cracknell posted: “The way you’re communicating with clarity and without self-pity is phenomenal, inspirational and shows why you achieved what you did and will continue to do so.”

Swimming champ Becky Adlington said on Instagram: “Thinking of you and sending you lots of love and support x”

Cycling gold medallist Joanna Rowsell-Shand commented: “Incredibly strong words. Wishing you the very best x”

Reed added: “Spinal strokes are very rare.

“They essentially starve the spinal cord of oxygen which can kill off the cells that transmit the signals sent between the brain and (in my case) the lower body.

“Doctors can’t be certain what caused my stroke. It was in the middle of my spine so I’m currently paralysed beneath my chest.”