Although he had no movement in his feet, hamstrings or glutes, he found the nerve damage did not extend to his quadriceps - meaning he could ride a bike.

BBC: Mark Colbourne after winning gold on Friday

"Both paddling and standing up on the board require a strong core foundation, which includes hips, glutes, abdominals and spine, " says Kevyn Dean, co-owner of DSC Performance, a surf-training company in Orange County, Calif.

WSJ: For the Love of Surfing and Wine Country

Not far from my apartment, within a stretch of no more than 500 feet, there are two doggie gyms where Gotham's canines who aren't getting enough exercise running through the city's parks, or are neglecting their all-important doggie glutes and abs, can go for a workout.

CNN: I don't love your dog -- and you can't make me!