It was the moment that changed his life. After a car accident in May 2000 Thomas Wandschneider was diagnosed with paraplegia and from then on was dependent on a wheelchair. He came to the clinic through an acquaintance from the clinic Parabadminton. It didn’t take long before he celebrated his first successes. In 2001 he took part in his first Badminton World Championships for the disabled in Córdoba, Spain.
One success follows the next
Wandschneider won his first medal at a badminton world championship for the disabled, a bronze medal in mixed doubles, in Cardiff in 2003. This was followed by more than 25 medals at world and European championships in singles and doubles. He was also able to do one in the mixed competition European championship title earn. His sporting highlight was probably two gold medals at the 2005 World Championships in Hsinchu, Taiwan. His last medals were gold in 2022 at the World Championships in Tokyo and in 2023 at the European Championships in Rotterdam. He has been part of the for over 20 years now World class.
Planned career end is discarded for the greater goal
Thomas Wandschneider actually wanted to end his sporting career several years ago. But the decision that the sport of parabadminton would be included in the summerParalympics 2020 in Tokio will be in the Paralympic program for the first time, prompted him to continue his career. At the games in the Japanese capital he took 7th place. Four years later he was able to get it Dream of precious metal at the Paralympic Games and won the bronze medal in Paris 2024.
I hope that I have brought you all under the spell of the sport. You can still pursue a goal at a certain age. Always get up, the next day will bring something better. Everyone can have a goal and achieve whatever they set out to do.
In recognition of these years of success, we are pleased that the newly crowned 61-year-old has received the Golden Hen in the Kategorie Sport/Paralympics receives. Congratulations!
