A professional motocross rider from Kelowna got back on his bike to showcase his adapted dirt bike on America's Got Talent.

Bruce Cook was paralyzed from the mid-section down in a dirt bike accident, but he adapted his motorcycle so he could land a backflip without using his legs.

Appearing on America's Got Talent: Extreme in a bid for a $500,000 prize, the former Nitro Circus rider landed the flip in competition while strapped to the seat. It was his first performance since his crash in 2014.

"Just because you have a disability doesn't mean you have to be on the sidelines, and you can be centre stage," Cook said on the show.

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The episode aired Monday, March 3, and the acts are judged by Simon Cowell, WWE star Nikki Bella and former Nitro Circus athlete Travis Pastrana.

During the episode, Cook recounts the accident in 2014 where he lost the use of his legs attempting a double front flip on a dirt bike.

"In a split second everything changed," he said. "Instantly I knew I had broken my back."

Despite the injury, he continues to pursue adrenaline-packed sports, which he decided to do as soon as he began to recover.

"After a few years of rehab, I finally feel ready," he said. "It can sound cliché, but I hope it can motivate somebody to go for it."

Vying for the $500,000 prize, which he said can help pay for expensive medical equipment, judges voted to move him to the next round.

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