Anne Patzwald

Started: She began playing wheelchair basketball in 2012 with the BBC Warendorf team in Germany. (Athlete, 20 Jul 2016, 23 Aug 2021; seriea.briantea84.it, 01 Jan 2024) Reason: Prior to her accident she was involved in judo, climbing and football. She tried several sports as part of her rehabilitation but wheelchair basketball was the one she decided to pursue. "Sport has always played a very big role in my life. I have been active in club sports and in various sports since I was four years old." (seriea.briantea84.it, 01 Jan 2024; dbs-npc.de, 26 Aug 2019) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (Facebook profile, 24 Apr 2024) Milestones: She is one of three players [along with Maya Lindholm and Mareike Miller] named in Germany's team for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris that also took part in the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, where Germany won silver. (SportsDeskOnline, 01 Jul 2024) Awards: She was part of the women's wheelchair basketball team that was named 2021 Para Team of the Year by the German Disabled Sports Association [DBS]. (dbs-npc.de, 27 Nov 2021) In 2016 she was presented with the Silberne Lorbeerblatt [Silver Laurel Leaf] in recognition of her achievements at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (bundespraesident.de, 01 Nov 2016) Additional Info: OCCUPATION She works as an occupational therapist in Hamburg, Germany. "After I finished school I wanted to become an occupational therapist. Being in a wheelchair acts as an icebreaker. After a trip to Australia, I was asked by a surprised patient, 'People in a wheelchair can travel on airplanes?' He also asked whether I can drive. I told him that I had a car that had been modified and that it wasn't a problem. People often think, 'Oh God, what can my future life look like?' Until someone like me comes along and shows them what is possible. I am a bit like a living example for them." (Instagram profile, 26 Mar 2024; seriea.briantea84.it, 01 Jan 2024; dbs-npc.de, 26 Aug 2019)