Tim Celen

Started: At age 13 he joined the Avalympics Para sports club in Geel, Belgium, and began competing in cycling. "After some competitions at recreational level, I began participating in Para cycling at international level in 2015." (timcelen.com, 16 Aug 2021; wiellimb.be, 12 May 2021; parantee.be, 28 Feb 2015) Reason: "I try to make the best of my impairment. I used to play football, but that didn't work out so well with my disability. Then I started cycling and it soon became clear to people around me that I had a talent for the sport." (timcelen.com, 16 Aug 2021; wiellimb.be, 12 May 2021) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (sporza.be, 09 May 2022) Awards: He won the Performance of the Year Award for male athletes at the 2022 Paralympic Sports Awards in Belgium. (rtbf.be, 03 Feb 2023; Paralympic Team Belgium X profile, 03 Feb 2023) He was named Male Para Cyclist of the Year for 2022 by the Union Cycliste Internationale [UCI]. (UCI Para-Cycling X profile, 21 Dec 2022) In 2015 he received the ENGIE Talent of the Year Award. (ENGIE Belgium YouTube channel, 21 Jun 2024)