Wojtek Czyz

Started: He took up Para badminton in 2021 in New Zealand. (badminton.org.nz, 23 May 2024) Reason: "Arriving in New Zealand, we fell in love with the country, and I was very interested to see how Para sport was set up in New Zealand. Badminton had always been a hobby of mine since I was a boy, but I'd never played it professionally. When I discovered it had been included in the competition schedule for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, I reached out to Badminton New Zealand and asked them to assess my skills." (badminton.org.nz, 23 May 2024) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (waikatotimes.co.nz, 04 Jul 2024) Additional Info: FROM GERMANY TO NEW ZEALAND He represented Germany in athletics at three editions of the Paralympic Games between 2004 and 2012. "I then retired from Para athletics, to sail around the world with my family and help amputees to receive prosthetics. Living on a boat for five years, we supported 90 people with prosthetic legs." He then settled in New Zealand, where he took up Para badminton. In 2024 he is set to become the first badminton player to represent New Zealand at the Paralympic Games. "Everyone who knows me, knows I don't do anything at 20 or 50 per cent. If I do something, I commit to it 100 per cent. So, I started to train twice a day, and this passion and commitment over such a short time brought me to the level where I was able to qualify for Paris [the 2024 Paralympic Games]." (badminton.org.nz, 23 May 2024) OTHER ACTIVITIES He is a certified diving instructor. He has also served as a board member for the Sepp Herberger Foundation in Germany. The charity aims to help people with an impairment improve their rehabilitation through sport. (badminton.org.nz, 23 May 2024; fussball-stiftet-zukunft.de, 22 Oct 2014) BOOK In August 2014 he published his autobiography in German, which is titled 'How I Lost My Leg and Found Myself: The Incredible Story of a Gold Medal Winner'. (Instagram profile, 10 Jul 2024; swr.de, 07 Aug 2014)

Sporting Relatives: His wife Elena Brambilla represented Italy in athletics [high jump]. (SportsDeskOnline, 30 Jul 2024; waikatotimes.co.nz, 04 Jul 2024)