Tanja Scholz has already been on the podium in Paris, Josia Topf even twice. On Friday evening, the two para-swimmers again managed to make it into the top three swimmers in their respective finals within just half an hour. No other German para-athlete has won as many medals in Paris as student Topf from Erlangen.
In the Paris swimming arena, Topf took his first breath after about 30 meters. Up until then, he swam to the top of the eight finalists in the S3 starting class without taking a single breath. The gold medalist from five days ago could not hold on to his position in first place, however – he touched the edge of the pool in third place after 45.61 seconds. Only Umut Unlu from Turkey and the Ukrainian Denys Ostapchenko were faster.
Topf is the first German para-athlete to this year’s Paralympics now completes the Paralympic medal set from Paris. “I am happy and satisfied. The fact that I won gold, silver and bronze is simply unbelievable,” said the swimmer on Friday.
For the 21-year-old, swimming means freedom: “I’m free in the water. I have a freedom of movement that I don’t have on land.” Topf was born with TAR syndrome, has shortened arms and no knee joints. He discovered his love of swimming at the age of six – at 18 he took part in the Paralympics for the first time in Tokyo. Three years later, he fulfilled his big dream of winning a medal. Or three medals.
Around 30 minutes later, Tanja Scholz, who has been paralyzed since a riding accident, followed suit with silver. The 40-year-old also finished third in the 50-meter freestyle in 40.75 seconds – but still came second. The Brazilian Lidia Vieira da Cruz was disqualified for a false start, allowing Scholz to win her first Paralympic silver. The American Leanne Smith came first.
After her gold medal on Monday, this is the German’s next success in Paris: “This is an absolute dream.” The Elmshorn native has not yet revealed whether she will compete in her last race at the end of the Paralympics this Saturday: “I’m a bit under the weather and will have to wait and see how the night goes,” said Scholz: “I hope I can start.”
