Turning adversity into triumph

The fiery-blonde Mohawk glistened in the searing sun as Thomas Geierspichler wheeled down the synthetic track at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore. Checking his lap time with coach Michael Selinger, he frowned, nodded his head and wheeled off again, hands furiously working at his streamlined sports wheelchair, giving the vehicle an added burst of speed. Ten minutes later and four laps down, Selinger gave him an appreciative look and Thomas was satisfied. “I’m no quitter,” grinned the Austrian.

Five-time Paralympic medallist, multiple world record holder and a European champion, Thomas Geierspichler was one of the star attractions at the 4^th International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports (IWAS) Games held recently in the city. In the midst of flashbulbs, reporters and the one-odd photo seeking fan, the Austrian remained unperturbed by the magnanimous attention he was getting. “I’m used to all this. It’s all good as long as it doesn’t affect my training,” said Thomas, as he happily obliged an Indian athlete with a picture.

An aspiring footballer, Thomas wanted to mould himself into a professional player and play for his country. He had his life planned. Until one fateful morning in 1994 changed his life completely. A freak car accident left him with severe spinal injuries, paralysed and bound to a wheelchair at a young age of 18.

With his dreams shattered, depression and frustration drove Thomas to alcohol and drug abuse. For three years he tried to battle reality with these dangerous vices, which instead pushed him deeper and deeper into utter despondency. “It was the toughest phase of my life. Confined to a wheelchair and my dreams in a mess, I had no hope. I thought this (alcohol and drug abuse) could help me forget it,” he said.

With the help of friends and the Bible, Thomas tried to get rid of his addiction and accept and live with his condition. He started reading up on sports for the disabled and wheelchair racing caught his attention. “To see so many others like me taking up sports and still live their dream was amazing. It inspired me to take up wheelchair racing and I realised I could perform well with it too,” Thomas said.

The 32-year-old then put in relentless hours of training and exercise, pushing himself to the limit. His hardwork paid off three years later when he won the bronze medal for marathon at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney. He bettered his run with a string of wins and creditable records at other world events, eyeing top honours at Athens. And what a comeback it was.

Thomas bagged an awe-inspiring five medals in the T52 category at the Athens Paralympics – One gold (1500m), 3 silver (800m, 5000m and marathon) and a bronze medal in the 400 metres event.

Last year at Beijing, he wrapped up a much-awaited gold in marathon with a world record time of 1:40.07 and a bronze in the 800m event. “Even when I now remember those moments, I feel it’s hard to believe that I won it all. It is and always will remain a fantastic feeling to be a champion, to see your dreams come true,” Thomas said.

Truly, Thomas’ liability had proved to be his victory.

Thomas