Andreas Ernhofer

Started: He took up the sport in 2016 in Vienna, Austria. (Athlete, 27 Aug 2024, 10 Sep 2019) Reason: He played wheelchair rugby after his accident, and then took up Para swimming following an introduction to the sport from Para swimmer Sabine Weber-Treiber. "I was allowed to watch her train a few times during my first rehab and immediately got on well with the coach. He then wanted to recruit me for swimming, but we agreed that I would finish my school leaving examination first. My life was very stressful at that point, as I really wanted to make up for the lost semester at school. In the summer of 2016, after graduating from high school, I got in touch with him again and was allowed to start training the next season." (ernhofer.at, 15 Apr 2020) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, and to compete at the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. (Athlete, 27 Aug 2024; Facebook page, 30 Aug 2021) Awards: In 2019 and 2021 he was named Para Athlete of the Year in Lower Austria. (Facebook page, 23 Oct 2021; meinbezirk.at, 22 Oct 2021; oepc.at, 25 Feb 2020) Additional Info: OCCUPATION He works for the Federal Ministry of Defence of Austria and is also a volunteer firefighter with the Feuerwehr Deutsch-Wagram in Austria. (Facebook page, 16 Feb 2024; obsv.at, 12 Apr 2022; Athlete, 20 Aug 2021) EDUCATION He studied medical informatics at Vienna University of Technology in Austria. (obsv.at, 12 Apr 2022; Athlete, 20 Aug 2021)