What do you do when life throws your greatest challenges on you? Do you accept them as your fate, or do you get up over them and transform your life forever? Although it is easier to succumb to life tragedies, some decide to clean their problems and make a name for themselves.
Former German Para-Sportovec Heinrich Popow belongs to the second group. From the fight against cancer at a young age to the victory of gold medals at the Paralympic Games Popow, he changed the greatest tragedy of his life based on motivation to the great.
But his journey to the stage was far from easy. Popow had a amputated left leg at the age of nine years as a result of Ewing’s sarcoma in the left fibula (knee disartication). While he coped with amputation, he was heartbreaking for his parents, the child in Popow accepted his fate without resistance and accepted a new chapter in his life.
Being a fans of hard football, which after amputation unable to amputation because the amputation broke his heart. But the young German awaited more difficulty because he was bullied at school for being different, the phase he describes is even more difficult than fighting cancer and the loss of the foot.
“Loss of foot at the age of 9 has proven to be the best thing because children see problems differently. In an interview with Indiatoday.in.
Popow gradually managed to return to the pitch to play football with his friends, where he switched from a water boy to the goalkeeper and eventually to be in the middle of the event. Still, there was no affection to get into para-athletics.
“I had no idea of Para Sports. I remember the doctor trying to motivate me with some videos and commercials from Barcelona from 1992 Paralympic Games at the time of my amputation, but I didn’t feel any connection with them.
Meeting with Para athletics
At the age of 17, Popow received an invitation to the sports event Para, where he ended up with the tenth best time in the world in 100m sprint. After the race, he was hit by a revelation that laid his career as a para-athete.
“I realized that the reason I started Para Sports was not because I wanted to be a 100m sprinter or a long sweater. It was because Para Sports gave me a chance to prove to people – those who told me I couldn’t run fast. I was driven by those negative voices around me. “This has happened to my greatest motivation.
From there, his journey began to become a full-time para-sports when Popow trained under a coach who found a unique method to get the best.
“Training with Olympics, especially girls, was very important to me. I was always very male in my behavior, so when my friends came to watch, I trained and finally lost to the girls, my disabilities disappeared immediately. This became a great motivation for me.
Popow debuted with Paralympic debut at 2004 in Athens and had an immediate impact, won bronze medals in the events of 100m T42, 200 m T42 and a long T42 jump. It was a huge success for the Germans, who did not even consider himself to become a para-athlet only four years ago.
In 2008 he returned to the Beijing Games and improved his performance by winning a silver medal in 100m sprint. Still, he felt that something was fine, and focused on the upper step of the stage and won gold.
Manifesting will come true in London
“After Beijing, I got a new car and wrote,” Go for gold. “In Germany, people usually don’t say things – it sounds arrogant because the Germans are very polite. And I said,” It’s not pressure. That’s exactly why I wrote it, “Popow recalled.
The German stood faithful to his words and for the first time tasted gold in 100 m sprint at games in London 2012. The 42 -year -old man broke a 100m world record in July 2013, reduced 12.11 seconds and improved Scott Reardon and Earle Connor timing for 12.14 seconds.
Three years later, in July 2016, he claimed another world record in the long T42 jump and in July 2016 jumped 6.72 m on his home track in Leverkusen. Popow won his second gold at Rio Games in 2016 in a long jump and reached a distance of 6.70 meters.
In addition to the Paralympic Games, the German has a decorated CV, winning 21 medals at various events at the European IPC championships (1 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze), World IWAS (two gold, five silver) and the World Championship of IPC (3 gold, 4 bronze).
“Disability begins with your thinking”
Popow attributes its mental resistance for its immense success and emphasizes its role, especially in the life of a para-atlet.
“Mental resistance is important in all sports, but it is absolutely critical in Para Sportch. After a traumatic experience – whether it loses its leg, arm or something else – the first challenge is that you go back to everyday life. Connection, ”said the eight -time Paralympic medalist.
After Popow hung his shoes from professionally, he continues to inspire Para-Attlets around the world. He is now working to raise the future stars of Para Sports and help amputes around the world to experience a prosthetics running in conjunction with Ottobock.
Popow is also enthusiastic about Para Sports, because growing investments allowed athletes to train full -time.
“With Para Sports, this is improving because they gain attention they deserve. They also gain the support they need for training as professionals, as full-time athletes. It was not possible for me to work and trained.
Association with IOC will be the biggest obstacle for IPC: Popow
“I don’t like Olympic Games. I have friends who participate, and for many of them it looks as if they’re just going in and going out. Added.
He also expressed his reservations about mixing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). In 2018, both bodies signed a long -term cooperation agreement by 2032 to increase the visibility of the Paralympic Games and strengthen the Paralympic brand.
Along with this, IOC also provides IPC financial assistance and ensures that the host of the Olympic Games also organizes Paralympic Games. Popow, however, believes that business thought IOC will prove to be harmful to IPC.
“I am not a big fan of this IOC and IPC together. I know that the dominant force will be IOC and IPC will be under its umbrella. Everything they decide will be based on money and business – not about humanity, not the right spirit of Paralympic games.
– ends
Published:
Rishabh beniwal
Published on:
October 5, 2025
