Josia Tim Alexander Topf

Started: His father taught him to swim at age four. He began regular training in 2012 in Erlangen, Germany. (rtl.de, 17 Apr 2022; josia-topf.com, 18 Oct 2020; Athlete, 15 Aug 2018) Reason: "It [swimming] improves my health condition. I am much more free in the water than on land, I can do whatever I want - spin, turn, twist. Whatever I want to do [in the water], I can do it. For me, swimming is a psychologist, a motivational trainer and a friend - all rolled into one. I love this sport. And even after more than 10 years, the love hasn't decreased a day. In the water I have what is unfortunately sometimes denied to me on land - freedom. I fight for every advantage in life. I won't be able to change it, so I'll make the best of it." (nn.de, 03 Mar 2022; Athlete, 15 Aug 2018; IPC YouTube channel, 01 Jan 2018) Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (rtl.de, 17 Apr 2022) Awards: In 2020 he received the Bavarian Sports Prize in the Outstanding Young Athlete category in Germany. (br.de, 26 Oct 2020; er-schwimmt.de, 01 Sep 2020) He was named 2019 Young Athlete of the Year by BVS Bayern in Germany. (bvs-bayern.com, 01 Sep 2019) He was named Sportsman of the Year for 2018 by SV Erlangen in Germany. (er-schwimmt.de, 01 Sep 2020) In 2018 he was named Athlete of the Year at the Erlanger Sports Gala in Germany. (nordbayern.de, 20 Jan 2019)