The “Thomas, Thomas” calls after his entry into the semi-finals at the Paralympics still give Thomas Wandschneider goosebumps. “I have never experienced such an incredible crowd here in the hall as today,” enthused the 60-year-old badminton player. On Sunday, the oldest German Paralympics participant after Heidemarie Dresing (69) can win medals for the first time.
After the quarter-final coup over 103 minutes against the 24-year-old Chinese Yang Tong (“All my children are older than him”), the paraplegic Wandschneider is still one victory away from the final. “I definitely want the medal,” he explained. His opponent in the round of the best four will not be determined until Sunday morning.
For Wandschneider, a medal would be the reward for the past few years. During the week, he slept in a converted van because of the hard and intensive training in Hanover. Only at the weekend did the father of four return to his family in Lindhorst in the Schaumburg district, an hour away. “I live 80 percent of my life in the car,” he said.
If I manage to win a medal after all the exertions, it would be the crowning achievement. “Then I will say: I took the right path,” said Wandschneider. “If not, I would have had four years without time for my family, my wife, for anything,” he explained. “Sorry, sorry, sorry, but I wanted the medal.”
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240901-930-219259/1
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