"Towards the end of 2003 it was hard to get through training - and the darkest point was when a doctor told me there was a possibility I could end up in a wheelchair"
About this Quote
The intent feels twofold. First, it’s testimony: an account of vulnerability from someone whose public identity was built on speed, power, and inevitability. Second, it’s a quiet correction to the myth of the indestructible athlete. Lomu’s fame wasn’t just about winning; it was about being a once-in-a-generation physical phenomenon. By naming the “darkest point” as medical prognosis rather than match-day failure, he’s shifting the stakes from performance to personhood.
Context sharpens it. In the early 2000s, Lomu was battling serious health issues (notably kidney disease), at a time when sports culture still rewarded silence and “playing through it.” The wheelchair image is potent because it’s not abstract fear; it’s a cultural symbol of dependence, immobility, and the loss of a body-as-weapon. Coming from Lomu, it’s also a kind of public mourning for the future he was supposed to have.
Quote Details
| Topic | Tough Times |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Lomu, Jonah. (2026, January 17). Towards the end of 2003 it was hard to get through training - and the darkest point was when a doctor told me there was a possibility I could end up in a wheelchair. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/towards-the-end-of-2003-it-was-hard-to-get-61282/
Chicago Style
Lomu, Jonah. "Towards the end of 2003 it was hard to get through training - and the darkest point was when a doctor told me there was a possibility I could end up in a wheelchair." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/towards-the-end-of-2003-it-was-hard-to-get-61282/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Towards the end of 2003 it was hard to get through training - and the darkest point was when a doctor told me there was a possibility I could end up in a wheelchair." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/towards-the-end-of-2003-it-was-hard-to-get-61282/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.





