Exceptional achievements (1)
The German Sports Aid Foundation presents some of its medal favourites for the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Franziska Liebhardt, athletics
The career of this athlete has put the spotlight on an important social issue: organ donations. Born in 1982, Franziska Liebhardt has been an organ recipient herself because she suffers from a systemic autoimmune disease that affected multiple organs: she received a lung transplant in 2009 and a kidney transplant in 2012. Following a stroke, she is also partially paralysed. Sport was always a key part of her life. These days she takes part in Paralympic competitions in shot put and long jump – an unusual combination that is difficult to train for, though possible if clear priority is given to shot put. She came second in both disciplines at the World Championships, and holds the world record in shot put. Gold in Brazil is by no means a utopian goal. Franziska, who is from the German city of Leverkusen, wants to take advantage of the increased attention she attracts at her first Paralympics in Rio to show what one can achieve thanks to – or despite – an organ donation.
Johannes Floors, athletics
Born in 1995 and likewise from Leverkusen, Johannes Floors is Germany’s 2015 Junior Sports Personality of the Year in disability sport – his reward for a great season: junior world champion in the 100 m sprint, 200 m sprint and 400 m sprint, as well as adult world champion in the 4x100m relay. Johannes only began using sprint prostheses in early 2014. Due to a congenital defect, he has no calf bones, his shin bones are shorter than usual and his feet are deformed. Despite considerable pain, he has played football ever since he was small and is passionate about swimming. It was in the pool that he also celebrated his first international successes with the junior squad of Germany’s national team of swimmers with a disability. The strain on his legs and feet became increasingly intense, however, with the result that Johannes decided at the age of 16 to have both legs amputated below the knee. Thanks to his iron will, however, he quickly managed to achieve world class level in athletics, too.
