After missing out on a place on the podium in the 100 metres, sprinter Leon Schäfer is still feeling bad about his two appearances at the Paralympic Games. He described his two fourth places at the Stade de France in Paris as “almost catastrophic in terms of performance”. “I would have been able to cope better with the long jump if I had won that thing today. I have no idea.”
The day before, he had announced that he would definitely win that very thing. “I was mentally ready. I could smell and taste the fear of the others in the call room. I can’t say what was missing,” said Schäfer, who had to have his right lower leg and knee amputated after being diagnosed with bone cancer.
Sixth medal at the third Games
Felix Streng finished his sprint in a different category at least a little more satisfied and with something to show for it. He won bronze, but he had also expected more. “As a sprinter, you start to win a race like this. I think that was the goal, to leave here with the title defended. But I’m here now and have my sixth Paralympic medal in my third Games,” he said.
Johannes Floors crossed the finish line directly behind Streng, but his focus is more on the 400-meter course anyway. He took a lot of positives from the race. “I now know how to soak up the atmosphere, I know what the track is like, I know what the starting blocks are like, and on Friday the cards will be reshuffled and I’ll bring the thing home,” said the 29-year-old, who finished as the best double amputee.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240903-930-221240/1
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