Overcoming Adversity: Becoming a Personal Trainer After Injury

Have you ever felt you couldn’t achieve something? Ever felt held back from pursuing a dream? You’re not the only one – we’ve all felt that way at some point in our lives. personal trainer graduate Lee certainly did back in 2016 when a serious motorbike accident left him fighting for his life in a 3-week coma.

Despite all the adversity he faced, Lee made an incredible recovery and has forged a successful career from his personal trainer course with The Training Room. We caught up with Lee to share his inspirational journey from serious injury through to rehabilitation.


“Lee, it’s great to hear from you! Tell us about how you came to start your course with us.

Sure, well like most aspiring personal trainers I’m really passionate about health and fitness so was keen to train in the industry. For me it’s more than just pushing your body – I’ve been going through rehab after a pretty serious biking accident and the personal trainer course has been part of that development.

My accident left me with broken bones and I lost about 25% of my brain function so I’ve struggled with memory loss and had to relearn and remap my brain. I saw the course as a great way to do that and after an initial conversation with my tutor Luke I was encouraged me to sign up - he’d cater for any student’s medical needs so I felt completely reassured even after everything I’ve been through.

What was your experience of the course?

To be honest, it was really difficult. My cognitive functions are skewed from the accident so it takes me a bit longer to process and retain information. Even with this struggle my tutor Luke was so patient with me – he asked encouraging questions and made sure I understood everything along the way. He’d come in an hour early every day to help with my studies – it’s helped rehabilitate my brain in a way I never thought would be possible. I’m so grateful.


Having completed the course, what advice would you give to other students?

Attitude is everything. If you let your injuries, or anything else for that matter, affect your attitude or self-worth you’ll struggle on the course. The learning is intense, but if you need help the tutors are there to support you – you’ve just got to communicate and have the right attitude. It really paid off for me.

Now you’re a qualified personal trainer, what are you planning next?

The Prince’s Trust is a charity I’m really passionate about so I’ll continue my work with them to help young women into jobs with career support.

I’ll utilise my new personal trainer (PT) skills to continue working with Ozbox. It’s a scheme aimed at young people using boxing as a way of keeping them on the straight and narrow and out of trouble. It’s so rewarding to know you’re making a difference to young people’s lives.

_{Lee at an Ozbox community boxing class}

I’m also focussing on my career as a Personal Trainer – I understand better than anyone the physical obstacles you face in a fitness journey. Whether a client is looking for that extra bit of motivation or to smash a specific goal I’m able to encourage and help; it’s a great feeling.



Feeling inspired by Lee’s incredible journey through rehabilitation and to becoming a qualified personal trainer?

Learn more about our Personal Trainer course here