60-year-old grandfather from Buxtehude celebrates Paralympics success after tragic disaster

After a fateful car accident, Thomas Wandschneider discovered his calling in para-badminton. At the age of 60, he secured a Paralympic medal.

Paris – A quarter of a century ago, a tragic car accident fundamentally changed the life of Thomas Wandschneider. The family man from Buxtehude suffered paraplegia and had to adapt to a new reality.

Instead of letting this terrible blow of fate get him down, Wandschneider discovered his passion for para-badminton. At the age of 60, he won a historic bronze medal at the Paralympics in Paris.

From misfortune to triumph: Wandschneider’s journey to a Paralympic medal

After the fateful accident in 2000 that left him paralyzed, Wandschneider quickly found his way to para-badminton. He began to train intensively and developed a deep passion for the sport that had to get him through the most difficult times. His commitment was so great that he did not give up comfort under any circumstances and lived for six years in a converted van outside the training hall in Hanover in order to prepare as best as possible for the games.

“I’ve been doing this for almost six years.” I spend 80 percent of my life in the car. That’s actually pretty crazy, but I had one goal: I wanted to win a medal at the Paralympics,” Wandschneider explained in Paris.

Wandschneider’s historic duel against the 36-year-younger Chinese Tong Yang

The road to the medal was not an easy one. In the quarterfinals, Wandschneider faced the 24-year-old Chinese Tong Yang, who was the favorite as second in the world rankings. The match set a record and lasted 103 minutes.

“My children are older than my opponents,” Wandschneider joked after the epic duel. Thanks to the support of the crowd, who cheered him loudly, he was able to win the match.

Paralympics miracle after tragic accident: 60-year-old grandfather from Buxtehude celebrates historic medal

In the match for third place, Wandschneider faced 47-year-old South Korean Jaegun Jeong. In an exciting match, the German won in two sets (26:24, 21:11) and secured bronze, the first German medal in para-badminton. Wandschneider’s introduction was met with great applause in the Porte de la Chapelle arena. The oldest athlete in the German Paralympics team became a crowd favorite with his spectacular style of play and his likeable manner.

“I always dreamed that I would be able to do it now – that I would win a medal in badminton for Germany.” And I actually did it. “I won the bronze medal for Germany,” said Wandschneider. “And the craziest thing is, at almost 61 years old. It’s bad that I, as a 61-year-old, have to show young people how it works. But we hope that the future will make the sport even more interesting for all of us.”