On May 4th, 2025, PULSE Racing athlete Peter van Burk did something never seen before. For the first time ever, an athlete with a spinal cord injury took part in the Wings for Life World Run in Breda using only Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) to power paralyzed muscles — no motors, no hand assist, just his legs, his determination, and years of training. And he achieved a world-first performance that is redefining the limits of possibility for people with spinal cord injuries.
The Wings for Life World Run is a global charity event by Red Bull, where thousands of runners and wheelers worldwide start at the same time to raise funds for spinal cord injury research. Breda hosted the official Flagship Run for the Netherlands.
Peter entered as an unofficial competitor, since FES cycling does not fit conventional race categories. But thanks to the support of the organisers, his attempt became part of the event’s mission — to make spinal cord injury visible and to push the limits of what is possible.
A Record, Against the Odds
The challenge was huge. Until now, the longest distance FES athletes reached was 2 kilometers [1], unless we are missing something.
And what did Peter do?
➡️ 17.7 km until the chaser car caught him.
➡️ He pushed on and finished the lap at 19.8 km.
➡️ Average speed: 10.5 km/h.
Almost 20 kilometers. Only with paralyzed muscles. No words really do it justice. This is a record-breaking performance.
And it is even more impressive when you consider the conditions. Some final details took longer than expected, and Peter was called to start earlier than planned. A missing set of electrode cables added last-minute stress – with only two found first instead of four for the glutes (but they turned up just in time!). As a result, he had almost no warm-up before the start gun went off.
Despite this, Peter delivered.
The course itself was beautiful, with an uplifting and inclusive atmosphere – but it was not easy. Parts of the route were not flat and smooth. Some sections had up to 2.8% incline and uneven surfaces. Despite this, Peter pushed through, which makes us confident: he is capable of going even further in optimal conditions.
What also made a big difference: runner Tim Kleinloog joined Peter on the track. Not only did Tim help clear a safe path through the crowd, he also helped manage pacing – a huge help on outdoor courses were FES acceleration and braking behave differently than normal running.
Inspiring Response – and What’s Next
Peter’s attempt did not just break a record – it turned heads. Fellow athletes were interested in the technology, and he was interviewed on the podium during the medal ceremony. Local news shared his story. See here for more:
Omroepbrabant: “Peter is verlamd, maar kan zo toch fietsen: ‘Je zet jezelf onder stroom’“
Red Bull: “400 deelnemers liepen voor degenen die dat zelf niet meer kunnen in Breda”
What made the day even more special was the atmosphere. Seeing thousands united for spinal cord injury research, and the interest in FES, showed just how important this moment was – and how crucial it is to continue raising awareness about its life-changing potential.
Next up: Austria, where our athletes will join the Vienna International Workshop on FES with an international FES-cycling competition [2].
We’ll also continue running workshops to make sure even more healthcare professionals and people living with SCI can discover what FES can do.
This is only the beginning – and we’re excited for what’s ahead.
Are you a student, athlete, or sponsor who wants to be part of the future of FES cycling?
We’re always looking for passionate collaborators, supporters, and teammates. Get in touch via the contact form!
[1] http://resc.ethz.ch/outreach/assistive-technology-records/neuroprosthetic-cycling-records.html
[2] https://mpbmt.meduniwien.ac.at/fesws2025/