Florian Bongard

Started: He began the sport in 2016. "The first time I was playing rugby was with the Koblenz Speedos team in Koblenz, Germany, two months after my car accident in 2016. I have always been very sporty and have always enjoyed competing against others. No matter whether it was in football, paintball or now in rugby." (Rollstuhlrugby Nationalmannschaft Deutschland Facebook page, 04 Aug 2019; Athlete, 08 Aug 2024) Reason: "My roommate in hospital told me about wheelchair rugby, so I looked at it and was impressed. Of course that [sustaining his impairment] takes you out of your life at first. But over time I realised what was still possible. Then I got involved [in wheelchair rugby] and now it's going well. Being able to do sport again, the hits, the teamwork." (pfefferminzia.de, 01 Nov 2023; bild.de, 27 Jul 2019; Athlete, 08 Aug 2024) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (Instagram profile, 19 Nov 2023)