Roger Habsch

Started: He took up the sport in 2018. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019) Reason: He tried swimming and handcycling after his accident before switching to Para athletics. "In 2008 I had the chance to try a hand bike at the rehabilitation centre of the hospital I was at. That's where my sporting career began. I practised handcycling at a high level for eight years. Then, one day, a friend challenged me to do a triathlon. I was up for the challenge and I saved some money to buy a racing chair. I was immediately hooked. I liked everything about the sport and I decided to focus on it. I promised myself that I would get to the same level as the Para athletes I saw on the internet." (redbull.com, 16 Mar 2022; rtl.be, 24 Sep 2021) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (rtl.be, 24 Sep 2021) Awards: In both 2022 and 2023 he was named Para Athlete of the Year at the Golden Spike awards ceremony in Belgium. (rtl.be, 02 Dec 2023) In 2021 he received the 'Perron d'Or' [Golden Column] as Para Athlete of the Year in Liege, Belgium. (liegesport.be, 01 Jan 2023) In 2019 he received the Sports Merit Award for Para sports in Liege, Belgium. (liegesport.be, 01 Jan 2023)