“It is by fighting the limitations, temptations, and failures of the world that we reach our highest possibilities.” – Helen Keller

When British Army Veteran James Rose lost both legs after stepping on an improvised explosive device while serving in Afghanistan in 2009, he was not sure how his life would pan out. “It was quite a difficult time,” Rose shared. “A really good time of my recovery… I was suffering really bad with my mental health, and things began to spiral out of control.”

Fast forward to today, that version of Rose has eventually become a distant memory. Nowadays, he finds himself triumphant after becoming the first double above-knee amputee to climb Mount Kilimanjaro – an extraordinary feat that can only be achieved when one is #InspiredtobetheBest.

Rising from the Bottom

After his ordeal in Afghanistan, Rose required four years of treatment, with each day presenting a new challenge. His journey to recovery wasn’t at all easy. He fought depression and anxiety, gained weight, and turned to alcohol. Reflecting on this, Rose said: “I carried on with my bad habits to block everything out.”

Through support from friends and family, Rose slowly started to get back on track. His wife played a key role in inspiring him to turn his life around after she introduced him to rowing. Despite his apprehensions, Rose excelled at the sport. After only three months, he was selected to be included in Great Britain’s rowing team.

In sport, Rose found a new purpose, a sense of pride, and a whole new take on life.

In 2018, Rose was asked to represent his country once again at the Invictus Games held in Sydney. This time around, he competed in wheelchair basketball and seated volleyball, winning bronze and silver medals respectively. While these milestones may prove to be enough for some, Rose only became even more determined and sought a new challenge – to conquer the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, part of the Seven Summits and the tallest mountain in Africa.

The Quest to Reach the Top

“On my return from the games, I wanted a new challenge. I wanted something that would really push my limits,” mentioned Rose. “I decided I wanted to climb a mountain. I successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro completely unaided on my prosthetic legs.”

The journey to reach Kilimanjaro’s peak was a grueling one. “I completely hit a wall and I just sat there sulking at myself because I just couldn’t go any further,” Rose narrated. “I sat and gave myself a good talking to for five minutes, and after that, something just clicked in my head, and I got up and carried on.” Rose withstood temperature highs of 30°C during the daytime, and lows of -10°C at night. He had to battle Kilimanjaro’s harsh winds. On his final push for the summit, he climbed for 15 hours and traversed 3,000 feet.

James Rose: Inspired to be the Best

Rose continues to rise above every challenge. Since 2019, he has climbed several other mountains in the United Kingdom and in Wales. His personal goals are set: to climb all Wainwrights (214 English peaks) and to become the first double above-knee amputee to summit Mount Toubkal, which is the highest mountain in North Africa.

We believe in the power of sheer determination – of having inner strength and will – to achieve the extraordinary, even when great obstacles are in the way. We are inspired by James’ focus and tenacity in the face of adversity. Teleperformance is proud to announce that we have partnered with James and added him to the stellar list of our Inspired to be the Best athletes who relentlessly push boundaries and overcome challenges, big or small.

Together with Aries, Aaron, Adolfo, Vasco, and James, Teleperformance is Inspired to be the Best, always persevering to improve in order to become the best version of ourselves. We proudly support these athletes as they continue to take on a quest to achieve more triumphs and showcase the strength of the human spirit.

#InspiredtobetheBest

Learn why Teleperformance is Inspired to be the Best by clicking here.