Qualifying opportunity

“Rolling Tom” still wants to jump on the Paris train

Thomas Geierspichler is training hard to be back at the Paralympics.

(Bild: Petra Dissertori)

Thomas Geierspichler still has one chance to put himself in a good starting position for the Paralympics in Paris. That's exactly where he has to deliver the fastest possible times at the Grand Prix.

After an unsuccessful World Championships in Kobe (Jp), Paris offers wheelchair racer Thomas Geierspichler his last chance to qualify for the Paralympics in the French capital. After the Grand Prix, the quota distribution will start and Austria will know how many places it will get and whether Geierspichler will still jump on the Olympic bandwagon. Being at the Paralympics would be the greatest thing even for the two-time gold medal winner: "That's what an Olympic athlete trains for."

What it will look like in reality is unclear. In the 100 and 400 meters, "Rolling Tom" is still a little way off the world's best. "It will take years to get closer step by step and to consolidate more," emphasizes the 47-year-old. However, he recently showed in Notwill (Sz) that he has come closer. "The slight headwind on the back straight cost me some speed. That's why it didn't work out by a hair's breadth," says the man from Anifer, who was only 15 hundredths off the pace. "I'm certainly not burying my head in the sand now. Now it's full steam ahead to the Grand Prix in Paris," where he was runner-up in the 1500 meters last year and would like to do it again in the summer.