This archive report was first published on 26 August 2019.
Markus Rehm, a 31-year-old German Paralympic athlete, has been making waves in the athletic world with his impressive long jump skills. Known as the 'Blade Jumper', Rehm has set a world record of 8.48m, a feat that would have easily won him gold at the last three Olympics.
Rehm, who lost his right leg in a wakeboarding accident at the age of 14, has been competing in athletics since then. He had hoped to compete at the Rio Olympics in 2016, but was denied due to concerns that his prosthetic leg gave him an unfair advantage.
Despite this setback, Rehm remains determined to compete against able-bodied athletes. 'I compare myself to the world's best long jumpers, so of course I look at the Olympic athletes,' he said in an interview with AFP. 'I see what they do and I will attempt to jump better than them' next year, when the Olympics and Paralympics are held in Tokyo.
Rehm's Olympic dreams are not just about competing against able-bodied athletes, but also about bringing the Olympics and Paralympics closer together. He believes that the two events should be held consecutively, rather than having a nearly three-week gap between them.
Rehm's vision for the future of Paralympic athletics is one of unity and recognition. 'I think we should still be separate events, because we have different values and messages we spread to the world... But I would like to come closer,' he said.
