Naomi Maike Schwarz

Started: She began swimming at age six in Bielefeld, Germany. She became involved in Para swimming in 2007. (maike-schnittger.de, 17 Mar 2024; Athlete, 05 Dec 2017) Reason: Her parents were swimmers and she always wanted to learn how to swim. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2017) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (teamdeutschland-paralympics.de, 06 Mar 2024) Awards: She received the 2014 Special Award at the Sports Gala in Bunde, Germany. (hsg-spradow.de, 03 Mar 2015) In 2009, 2010 and 2011 she was named Female Athlete of the Year of Bunde in Germany. (koch-buende.de, 15 Mar 2011) She was named Best Young Swimmer of Germany in 2008 and 2010. (Athlete, 20 Aug 2010) Additional Info: MISSING TOKYO She decided not to participate in the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo as she was struggling with depression. She took time away from the sport and underwent treatment at a clinic for 18 weeks. "I just couldn't go on, I was completely exhausted. I was really miserable. I tried for so long to pull myself together every day, to defy all setbacks, but then it was no longer possible. I had suffered long enough, I had to pull the ripcord and, looking back, I should have done it sooner. But I just didn't have the strength for Tokyo. It was a crazy experience, four and a half months [in the clinic] is a really long time. It did me a lot and it was very helpful to be with people who knew exactly how I felt and to whom I didn't have to explain everything. The illness took away what I love so much: sport and the joy of life. But I am in the process of getting it back bit by bit. I will work as hard as I can and then we'll see if I make it to the [2024 Paralympic] Games and what I can do. If I actually stand on the starting block in Paris, then I will have already achieved so much. That would be a sensational feeling." (teamdeutschland-paralympics.de, 06 Mar 2024) FROM JAPAN TO GERMANY She was born in Japan, where her parents were working as teachers at a German school. The family returned to Germany in 1996. (maz-online.de, 17 Jan 2017, 17 Apr 2014)

Sporting Relatives: Her father Rainer Schnittger has coached swimming at the TG Ennigloh club in Germany. (Facebook page, 02 May 2016)