From Football Dreams to Resilient Realities: Yannick Rebsamen’s Inspiring Journey of Overcoming Adversity and Rebuilding Life After Tragedy

Could you start from the beginning and walk us through what happened?

I was on track to become a professional footballer when my life took a drastic turn. I was fully committed to my goal, playing for Young Boys in Bern—a club known for their distinctive yellow shirts. At 23, I was living my dream, but everything changed one fateful Friday night.

I went out with friends in Zurich, and after a night of partying, the last thing I remember was dancing at the club. The next moment, I woke up in the hospital. I was in excruciating pain and discovered that I had lost my legs. I learned from the doctors that I had been in a train accident. I had walked into a train tunnel while heavily intoxicated, and a train had passed by, resulting in severe injuries.

My friend wasn’t with me that night; I was alone. I saw footage of myself stumbling around, but I don’t remember anything from when I entered the tunnel to the accident itself. When I woke up in the hospital, my parents and friends were there, visibly upset. I was initially disoriented and confused, but I quickly realised the severity of my situation.

The doctors informed me that I had been clinically dead for 20 minutes and was incredibly lucky to be alive. Despite losing my legs, I remained optimistic, focusing on the fact that I was still alive and able to think clearly. It took me about a week to fully process the gravity of what had happened and to begin adjusting to my new reality, dealing with practical challenges like getting around and performing daily tasks.

Your story is incredibly moving, but I want to understand a bit more about what happened. Did the train driver see you on the tracks, and was there any chance for him to stop? After the accident, how quickly did emergency services arrive and take you to the hospital? When you woke up, how long had you been unconscious? Was it just a few hours, or were you in a coma for days?

Actually, when the accident happened, the police came to my parents’ house and warned them that I might not wake up for days, weeks, or even months. However, I woke up on the same day, which was a surprise to them. I lost a lot of blood, as you’ll see in the photos, and I was rushed to the hospital. When I came to, I didn’t remember anything.

You wake up and learn about the accident and your injuries. Losing both legs is a huge shock, and even losing a small part of yourself can be overwhelming. How did you stay so composed and not crumble under the weight of such a major loss?

To be honest, I wasn’t exactly calm at first. My initial reaction was more like, “Okay, what’s next?” I knew life had to go on, and I’m very solution-oriented, so I immediately started thinking of ways to adapt. It took me about a week to accept that my legs were gone for good.

I began researching others who had gone through similar experiences. I found two people who inspired me—a guy in the U.S. with no legs and another who had no arms and was a motivational speaker. Seeing them succeed made me think, “If they can do it, so can I.” Unlike them, I wasn’t born with these challenges, but I realised I could still lead an active life. Being athletic helped me regain confidence because I could still move around and do things on my own, which made me believe I could start my life over.

How long did it take before you could get out of bed, move around, and feel ready to leave the hospital?

I spent three weeks in the hospital and then six months in rehab. By June or July 2019, I was back home. Surprisingly, I started my business just a week after the accident, using the time I had to be productive despite the pain. Within two weeks, I could move a bit—like getting to the toilet on my own—and started light fitness training two and a half weeks in. Staying active was crucial for me to maintain my physique and confidence, which fueled my recovery and the success of my business.

What about football? There must have been days, if not weeks, where you thought, “My dream has been taken away from me.”

Yes, I did have those thoughts, but I quickly realised that even if I had continued playing football until I was 30 or 34, especially in Switzerland, I’d still need to find a new career afterward. So, I decided to use this time to build something that would secure my future, so I wouldn’t have to work in the traditional sense anymore.

Of course, as a businessman, I’m always working, but it’s different. I do miss football sometimes—it was the love of my life—but I accepted it was over and focused on what else I wanted to achieve.

How did people react? What about your family, friends, and your ex-girlfriend? Did their behaviour or the way they saw you change after the accident?

They didn’t treat me differently because I took away their fear by reassuring them, saying, “I’m here, I can talk, everything’s okay.” In the beginning, I needed some help since I couldn’t move around much, but they didn’t act differently. They saw that I was still the same person. People who knew me treated me normally because I acted normally, and that made everything feel natural and comfortable. That was the beautiful part.

You mentioned that you’re no longer friends with the person you were out with that night. Did the accident have anything to do with that?

No, it’s not related to the accident. He was just part of my life back then, someone I went to parties with. I’ve since moved on and don’t enjoy parties much anymore—unless there’s a business achievement to celebrate. I’ve distanced myself from many people from that time because you need to move on and surround yourself with those who align with your current goals. It’s not personal against him; it’s just about evolving and letting go of things that no longer fit.

How can people looking at your situation improve their mindset, become more resilient, and grow stronger? I recently interviewed someone with a similar story—a woman who escaped sex trafficking, faced numerous hardships, and eventually became a personal trainer and motivational speaker. Despite her harrowing experiences, she overcame them and built a positive life.

How have you developed through your challenges, and what can others learn from your journey to apply to their own lives?

Absolutely. I believe everyone can overcome challenges if they face the harsh realities of life and change their mindset. Nothing will change unless you change your own thinking. If you’re unhappy with your life, it often reflects what’s happening in your mind.

You need to take responsibility and realise that you can transform your situation by shifting your perspective. I’ve done it myself, so I know it’s possible. People often get bogged down by minor issues, but even after losing my legs, I rebuilt my life and achieved success. It’s about maintaining a mindset that refuses to accept defeat.

From football, I learned that no matter what happens, you keep pushing forward. I wish more people would hold themselves accountable and adopt a tougher mindset to achieve their goals.

You mentioned two key ideas that resonate with me: taking responsibility for everything in my life and focusing only on what I can control. I’ve faced challenges myself, like going bankrupt at 27, but rebuilt from that loss.

However, I understand that losing something permanent, like your legs, is vastly different from losing money, which is replaceable. This highlights the different scales of loss and resilience.

I faced a similar situation with my money. In dropshipping, especially at my scale, you often have multiple companies and bank accounts. I made the mistake of consolidating everything into one account, which ended up being blocked. With around $2 million in that account, it was challenging to prove ownership, even though it was mine. This led to a heavy bankruptcy and a $300K debt to American Express.

Interestingly, I met my girlfriend around this time, and she was unaware of my financial troubles. I knew that if I pushed through this challenge, I’d come out stronger, which is exactly what happened.

And where is that money now? The funds that were in the account that got seized—it’s just gone. You’ll never get it back?

In Switzerland, it was in a personal bank account. I might get it back eventually, but as I said, I don’t stress about it because I have the skills to recover.

Tell me about your day-to-day life and how it’s changed, or how you’ve managed to keep things as normal as possible. For example, you mentioned that you like to travel and have moved from Switzerland to Dubai. How has losing your legs affected these aspects of your life? Do you still feel like you’re living as normally as you can?

Even though I no longer play football, I stay active with the gym and continue travelling and socialising. Interestingly, losing my legs has brought some unexpected benefits. For instance, I can skip lines at places like Disneyland and board flights early. These advantages have had a surprising impact on my daily life, making some aspects of travel and business easier. My focus is now on self-improvement and surrounding myself with positive people, while I’ve moved away from activities like excessive drinking. Overall, I find that being in a wheelchair has opened up new opportunities and made life quite rewarding, especially in places like Dubai where my situation often sparks conversations and connections.

Do people you meet often ask you about it, or do you find they avoid the topic out of politeness?

In Dubai, people tend to ask directly about my situation, unlike in other places where they might ask staff or avoid the topic. I’m fine with it and usually share my story openly. This often leads to meaningful connections and opportunities that I might not have had otherwise.

What does the future look like?

I’m focused on continuous self-improvement—becoming the best version of myself, growing my knowledge, and enhancing my relationships and business. My goals include expanding my network, increasing my income, and seeking funding for a new brand. I also want to start mindset coaching to show people that if I can overcome challenges, they can too. My approach will be grounded in real-life experience, unlike some coaches who haven’t faced significant struggles.

Additionally, I plan to launch a sports brand called “No Limit,” reflecting the idea that our mindset has no boundaries. I have a clear vision for these projects, but I understand that plans can change unexpectedly, whether it’s relocating or altering my business strategies.

How do you envision your coaching program? Will it involve one-on-one sessions with individuals?

I would prefer to offer one-on-one coaching sessions because they provide the most benefits. While principles and frameworks can be shared through courses, one-on-one interactions offer the best chance for success. For instance, in e-commerce, courses can be quick, providing information in a short period. However, mindset coaching requires a more extended commitment, often lasting six months to a year, because it involves deep, lasting changes. It’s a continuous process that varies with each individual. I find that personal, real-time interactions are the most rewarding, allowing me to see and support clients’ progress directly.