What happened: Spaniard Adolf Silva suffered the worst fall of Rampage 2025 and possibly of all previous rampages. In the first round, Silva had a mishap in which he almost lost his trousers and flew through the air with his bum exposed.
In his second attempt, he tried the almost impossible: a double backflip over a cliff. Unfortunately, what must be avoided at all costs happened with a double flip: Silva turned too little, got stuck with his front wheel and hit the ground like a head dive into a swimming pool. Adolf injured himself so badly that he is now in a wheelchair. The doctors' tough prognosis: you won't be able to walk again. But Adolf is not deterred by this, as he explains in the Q&A interview on his YouTube channel.
Interview with Adolf Silva Part 1 & 2:
BIKE: How are you doing mentally?
Adolf Silva: Mentally, I feel stronger than ever before. As crazy as it sounds, what happened has somehow made me even more resilient. I feel good, motivated and ready to keep going.
Was the double backflip planned - and why did you do it?
Yes, the double flip was planned. I had already tried it out at home, even if the setup there wasn't ideal. Nevertheless, I was 100 per cent sure that it would work. The idea has been with me since Rampage 2018, when many people advised me not to try it without rehearsing. Since then, it's always been in the back of my mind and this year I finally wanted to go through with it.
Do you remember the accident?
Yes, everything. I never lost consciousness and was clear at all times - I knew where I was, what was happening and what the people around me were saying. I even remember landing the canyon gap, braking for the double and focussing for the drop. Nobody knows exactly what went wrong - too little speed, too little pull. But I remember every second of it.
How did you feel immediately after the crash?
When I came to a standstill, I immediately realised that I could no longer feel my body from the chest down. I told my wife straight away that my legs weren't working. At the same time, I had severe pain in my upper back. I knew immediately that something serious had happened.
What is the exact injury level?
It is a T3 injury - i.e. from chest height downwards.
What was done during the operation?
The operation took five to six hours. My back was dislocated, T2 and T3 were broken. The doctors realigned the spine, screwed it together and stiffened it from T2 to T6 with two plates and several screws.
What treatments are available for spinal cord injuries?
There are many approaches - stem cell therapies, electrical nerve stimulation and other experimental methods. But none of these have been scientifically proven at present. We look at everything, check with the doctors what makes sense and decide step by step.
What do you find most difficult to accept?
Clearly: the whole toilet process. If nothing works below the breast, everything has to be done completely differently. This is the biggest change for all those affected - and for me too.
Would you try it again? Do you regret trying the double backflip?
No, I don't regret it. This trick had been in my head for years and I knew the moment would come. Would I try it again? Yes. You never know what would have happened otherwise - maybe it would have landed perfectly, maybe I would have fallen later in the run. It just happened. The only way forward now is to accept, adapt and move on.
What has changed the most since the accident?
Actually everything: getting dressed, getting into the car, going to bed - everything is done with my arms and in a wheelchair. However, as I said, the toilet issue remains the biggest turning point.
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How were the first few weeks in hospital?
Despite everything, the first few weeks were good. The nursing staff took incredibly good care of us. I lay down a lot at first so as not to disturb the healing process. Lots of friends came round, which made the time easier.
What does a day with good and bad moments look like?
I wouldn't say that there is a specific percentage. At the moment, most days are really good. Of course there are short lows - that's normal. But overall, I feel motivated and curious about what's to come.
How do you perceive the reactions of the community?
I have no words for this. The support is unbelievable and much greater than I ever expected. I can't reply to everyone, but I read as much as I can. This love and support means so much to me.
How do you keep yourself busy apart from rehab?
Rehab actually takes up the whole day - from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with short breaks. Afterwards, friends often come round, we talk a lot, and at the weekend I can go home, spend time with my wife and dog and enjoy a bit of normality again.
What do the doctors say: will you be able to walk again?
The doctors clearly say that I will remain in a wheelchair and won't be able to walk again. But at the same time, we all know that there have been cases where people have taken steps again despite the prognosis. We don't know. At the moment, the reality is: I'm in a wheelchair. I'm continuing to work from here, learning and adapting. And whatever the future brings - we'll accept it.
And what about the "bum" moment in the first run?
Yes, that was funny. If the crash hadn't happened, I'm sure a lot of people would have talked about it. I didn't even notice it when I was riding - only when friends sent me videos. Apparently my whole bum was on TV. I hope you had fun with it!
Adolf, after everything that's happened, how do you manage to stay so positive?
I think there is only one way for me to deal with the situation. The way you accept something and how you react to it changes the whole process. Thinking negatively doesn't get you one step further. So I try to stay positive, look forward, be happy and improve a little bit every day.
What is the current schedule for your rehab?
There isn't really a fixed plan. At the moment we are in hospital every day and only sleep at home. That will probably go on for a few more months. After that, we'll probably move to another rehab centre for another six months. The idea is clear: do as much as possible, work constantly for a year - and then see where I stand.
What are your short-term and long-term goals in physiotherapy?
In the short term, it's all about the basics: getting from the wheelchair to bed, into the shower or to the toilet independently. Just everyday things. Building up strength in the upper body, finding balance, activating the core. In the long term, it all boils down to the same thing: being independent and organising my own life.
Has anything physically improved/healed?
Basically unchanged since day one. I have no feeling or movement from the chest downwards.
What is your overarching goal for recovery?
Being one hundred per cent independent. Living alone, travelling alone, doing everything alone. It takes time, it's painful - but we'll keep working and see where the road takes us.
What was it like to return home for the first time in months?
It was a mixture of many feelings. Happy, but also nervous. Seeing the jumps in the garden, going into our own workshop, being back in our own house - it felt good. We're not completely back yet, but we will be soon.
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How well are you coping with your new everyday life?
It's actually been pretty good so far. It's not easy, but we're trying to make it as pleasant and even a bit fun as possible. A lot of things will only become clear once I'm completely back at home. Then the real challenges will come - but we'll take them as they come.
What do you currently need help with?
Especially in the morning in the bathroom or when something cannot be controlled. Due to pain and limited mobility, putting on shoes or changing clothes is sometimes difficult. The rest works quite well - but things will certainly change again at home.
You watched the crash yourself several times. How did it feel?
Surprisingly okay. Immediately after the operation, I wanted to see the video and looked at all the perspectives. It wasn't a big deal for me.
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Will you ever be able to bike again?
That's a big question. You never know what will happen - maybe there will be a miracle. But that's not an issue at the moment. I would be happy enough to be able to walk again.
What feelings do you have when you think about biking?
To be honest, I'm hardly thinking about it at the moment. My focus is completely on recovery. Everything else is far away right now.
Do you already have plans for the future?
Much too soon. The next twelve months are all about my recovery. After that? I have no idea. I have lots of ideas - probably something to do with cars. The main thing is to have fun and stay "loco".
The interview was transcribed and translated into German from the two YouTube episodes #STILLLOCO #6 and #7.
Laurin Lehner
Editor
