Golden week for Lucas Liß: won two medals at the championship!

Golden week for Lucas Liß: won two medals at the championship!

The last few days have been a real fireworks display for Lucas Liß, the police commissioner from RSV Unna. He not only showed impressive performances on the track at the German Championships in Cottbus, but also demonstrated his suitability as a partner for the visually impaired athlete Matthias Köhler. The invitation from the national coach of the German Disabled Sports Association came as a surprise, but Liß and Köhler mastered the challenge of preparing for tandem riding in just 72 hours. This was no easy task, as tandem riding not only requires excellent coordination, but also speeds of over 70 km/h.

The competitions included exciting disciplines: individual pursuit, team sprint and the 1000m time trial. The two athletes were able to celebrate a gold medal in the single pursuit and also secured silver in the other two disciplines. This outstanding performance not only showcased her talent but also raised hopes for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The national coach expressed optimism that the duo has great potential for the upcoming Olympics.

Another success

But that wasn't all: a week after the championships in Cottbus, Liß took part in the NRW police road championships in Hamminkeln. The flat and fast course suited him very well and he showed once again that he has a good knack for sprinting to the finish. He ended this golden week with another triumph.

What is para cycling?

Lucas Liß's remarkable achievements are no coincidence. Para-cycling enables people with almost all disabilities to become active. From two-wheelers and tricycles to handbikes and tandems – the variety is impressive and everyone can take part as long as he or she can actively move the upper or lower extremities. Visually impaired athletes often use tandems with sighted pilots to race safely and quickly across the track or street. In para-cycling competitions, a distinction is made between track and road competitions, with the disciplines being divided into different classes depending on the level of disability. These sporting challenges are courageously accepted by many and enthusiasm for the sport is constantly growing. More information can be found on the website of the German Disabled Sports Association (https://www.teamdeutschland-paralympics.de/sportarten/details/para-radsport).

2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles

Looking to the future, the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles cast a shadow that spreads even more hope. At these Games it was recently announced that the sport of para-climbing had been added to the program. This decision was made in June 2024 and was well received. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) described para-climbing as a fast-paced and exciting sport that offers more athletes from 27 nations the opportunity to compete. Among the sports that tried to be included were sensitized disciplines such as wheelchair handball and para-surfing, but these were not approved. It remains exciting to see how the Paralympics will develop in Los Angeles, where athletes will show outstanding performances in extraordinary sports such as para-cycling. Further exciting details can be found on Sportschau.