Niko Kappel

Started: He took up the sport in 2008 at the TSF Welzheim club in Germany. (Athlete, 21 Aug 2021; ospe-bw.de, 01 Jan 2021) Reason: He was inspired by German Para athlete Mathias Mester, who won a silver medal at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. "I tried a lot of different sports and found that athletics is what I like the most." (paralympic.org, 03 Jul 2018; Athlete, 04 Apr 2011) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (sportschau.de, 12 Jul 2023) Awards: In 2016 and 2017 he was presented with the Para Athlete of the Year Award by the National Paralympic Committee of Germany. (leichtathletik.de, 26 Nov 2017; paralympic.org, 29 Nov 2016) He received the Silver Laurel Leaf in recognition of his performance at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (swr.de, 29 Dec 2016) In 2010, 2011, and 2012 he was named Athlete of the Year by the TSF Welzheim club in Germany. (tsfwelzheim.de, 2013; wbrs-online.net, 26 Mar 2012; zvw.de, 21 Mar 2011) Additional Info: MOVE TO STUTTGART In October 2020, after four years competing for the VfL Sindelfingen club, he moved to VfB Stuttgart in Germany. "As a track and field athlete I can now wear the jersey. And enjoy it. But as a young footballer and VfB fan, I have always dreamed of competing for VfB Stuttgart and now I have fulfilled my childhood dream in another sport." (swr.de, 22 Oct 2020; bbheute.de, 22 Oct 2020) DOCUMENTARY He took part in a Paralympic documentary series called 'WHO I AM', which was produced in conjunction with a Japanese media company and the International Paralympic Committee [IPC]. The series has been broadcast and distributed since 2016 with Niko's episode produced for the 2018/19 season. It showcased his journey as a Para athlete, and his lead-up to the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (paralympic.org, 28 Oct 2022; Paralympic Games YouTube channel, 26 Aug 2020; imdb.com, 01 Jan 2019) OTHER ACTIVITIES He has served as a member of the municipal council of Welzheim, Germany. "I enjoy supporting the topic of inclusion in a variety of ways." (ospe-bw.de, 01 Jan 2021; zvw.de, 29 Jul 2017)