89. Harry Leary cut a tendon in his hand and "knew that his BMX career was over" - hear the story

Record details

Video ID

kncF0o8GpG8

Published

2025-11-18

Availability

Public

Duration

2:19

Transcript

YouTube automatic caption

Description snapshot

89. In this short reel, BMX legend Harry Leary’s sister shares a story of an injury Harry sustained while in his storage unit - putting things away. He was climbing on a ladder, the ladder slipped, and Harry grabbed a beam overhead. The beam was razor sharp and Harry ripped the tendons in one of his hands.

   “He knew his BMX career was over.” - Linda Leary Taylor explains. 

Harry had to have surgery to reattach his tendons. He did change his brake lever to the opposite hand but Kyle pointed out that Harry used to ride with front and rear brakes so he was used to it but maybe a little out of practice. He “raced with a damn bandage on his hand” Linda elaborates. Linda believes that Harry was exercising it when the Dr. told him not to and Harry Leary told the Dr. to f*&k off in a nutshell. His sister believes that was his last really bad injury - approximately 2021.

Hear her response and  listen to our conversation about BMX legend Harry Leary, with his sister Linda Leary Taylor and Kyle A. Huffman while walking over the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, AZ.

Full length recording: https://youtu.be/2EWCctB6bss?si=2t9LeqBREodkMTzO

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fireside-bmx-chat-a-fireside-chat-with-about-bmx/id1848602330

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/50iXYKiNPlsvM47ZPZL1Fi?si=32d2476edc7b45c0

iHeartRadio - https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-fireside-bmx-chat-a-firesi-302694528

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Transcript

Yeah, I've heard he's had some some pretty severe injuries and he got right
pretty severe injuries and he got right on a bike right after that.
on a bike right after that. >> He did. And I can tell you about one of
>> He did. And I can tell you about one of them.
them. >> Yeah. What's that?
>> Yeah. What's that? >> He was in his storage unit putting
>> He was in his storage unit putting things away and he was climbing on a
things away and he was climbing on a ladder. The ladder slipped. He grabbed
ladder. The ladder slipped. He grabbed the bean overhead and it was razor sharp
the bean overhead and it was razor sharp and he ripped the tendons in his hand.
and he ripped the tendons in his hand. >> Oh my gosh.
>> Oh my gosh. >> He called me. He was screaming because
>> He called me. He was screaming because he just knew his BMX career was over.
he just knew his BMX career was over. >> And I could send you pictures of it. And
>> And I could send you pictures of it. And he ended up having to have surgery to
he ended up having to have surgery to reattach his tendons.
reattach his tendons. >> Oh wow.
>> Oh wow. >> In his hand. You know what? I don't
>> In his hand. You know what? I don't remember his right hand or his left
remember his right hand or his left hand, but I do know that he changed his
hand, but I do know that he changed his brake lever to the opposite hand so that
brake lever to the opposite hand so that he could still race. And he raced with a
he could still race. And he raced with a damn bandage on his hand.
damn bandage on his hand. >> Huh. Well, he had to have been used to
>> Huh. Well, he had to have been used to that because for the early part of his
that because for the early part of his career, he ran front and rear brakes.
career, he ran front and rear brakes. So, he wasn't a stranger to his left
So, he wasn't a stranger to his left hand or to the alternate hand. He just
hand or to the alternate hand. He just might have been a little out of
might have been a little out of commission on that bad [laughter] one.
commission on that bad [laughter] one. >> Yeah, I think he only took a month off
>> Yeah, I think he only took a month off and the doctor,
and the doctor, >> he was moving that hand and exercising
>> he was moving that hand and exercising it when the doctor had told him not to.
it when the doctor had told him not to. >> And he basically told the doctor to go
>> And he basically told the doctor to go [ __ ] himself. And Harry recouped at my
[ __ ] himself. And Harry recouped at my house and he was he was back on the road
house and he was he was back on the road after a month.
after a month. >> Wow. Wow.
>> Wow. Wow. >> And he Yeah, it was a bad injury. It
>> And he Yeah, it was a bad injury. It really was. Um
really was. Um >> that sounds I mean it sounds terrible.
>> that sounds I mean it sounds terrible. >> And that actually I think was his last
>> And that actually I think was his last really bad injury that he took that I am
really bad injury that he took that I am aware of was the severing of his tendons
aware of was the severing of his tendons in his hand.
in his hand. >> When was that? What was that? uh in the
>> When was that? What was that? uh in the 20 early 2020s or
20 early 2020s or >> Yeah, I'm thinking that's about when it
>> Yeah, I'm thinking that's about when it was now. I'm not real sure. We moved
was now. I'm not real sure. We moved permanently out there in 2021. So, it
permanently out there in 2021. So, it may have been 2021.
may have been 2021. >> Oh, wow. Okay.
>> Oh, wow. Okay. >> Or 2022, but um yeah, I'm thinking 2022,
>> Or 2022, but um yeah, I'm thinking 2022, honestly.
honestly. >> Okay.
>> Okay. >> And I But I could be wrong all the time.
>> And I But I could be wrong all the time. I mean,
I mean, >> it's okay.
>> it's okay. >> You know, I'm getting old. So,
>> You know, I'm getting old. So, >> I'm terrible with dates. Trust. I'm with
>> I'm terrible with dates. Trust. I'm with you on that.
you on that. >> I I am too. I I mean I can remember what
>> I I am too. I I mean I can remember what I did yesterday.

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