Sandra Stoeckli

Started: She took up handcycling in 2013. (suedostschweiz.ch, 21 Jul 2016) Reason: She previously competed in Para athletics [wheelchair racing] but a 2013 rib injury meant she was unable to sit to train. She began handcycling and chose to pursue the sport instead. (suedostschweiz.ch, 21 Jul 2016) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (kistler.com, 15 Feb 2023) Awards: She was named the 2004 Sportswoman of the Year in Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland. (sandrastoeckli.ch, 01 Jul 2017) Additional Info: CAREER CHOICE She used to split her time between competitive sport and working at the land registry office of the city of Rapperswil-Jona in Switzerland. "At a certain point I had to make a choice. Did I want to get better at sport, particularly high-level sport, to try to participate in the Paralympics and world championships? Or did I want to continue working part-time? The enormous load of training and competitions, added to my work, was pushing me beyond my physical and health limits. I dared to make this attempt and focused on sports at the highest levels. They were difficult times. There have been situations where I needed a new sweater and couldn't afford it." (vzug.com, 15 Aug 2022) GRAND TOUR In 2019 she handcycled 1000 miles across Oman in 10 days. (premium-speakers.com, 01 Oct 2019)