Michael Teuber: The Paralympic champion who climbed Africa’s tallest mountain

September 4, 2012

It was a car crash back in 1987 on August 1 that threatened to rob passionate cyclist Michael Teuber of the sport he loved so much.

But 25 years on, following an initial period of 3 years in a wheelchair, Michael emerged to become a three-time gold medal paralympian and a true sporting hero.

Ten years after the terrible accident that left him paralysed from below the knee, the German-born Michael took part at the Paracycling World Championships for the first time.

Since then he has gone on to compete with outstanding success, not to mention a climb to the top of one of the world’s highest points...

In 15 years of paralympic athletics,  Michael has won 3 gold and a silver medal at Paralympic Games and amassed 24 medals - including 16 gold - at IPC/UCI World Road and Track Championships. He has set 9 Track World Records so far and remained at the top of the road world ranking list since it began.

The London Paralympic Games will be Michael’s fourth and his great goal is to with his fourth Gold.

And as we look forward to other great examples of sporting inspiration compete in London at the Paralympics, Michael finds himself in a strong position for success.

Michael has just won gold medals at the UCI Paracycling Road World Championships 2011 in Roskilde, Denmark, helping put him in the position of favourite for Gold in the C1 Time Trail at the London Games 2012. It was the 6th time, he won the world title in the Road Time Trail and the 4th time he won in the Road Race. 

In 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2010, Michael Teuber was a nominee for the Laureus Award. In 2005 and 2008, he was decorated with the Silver Bay Leaf by Germany´s President. Michael also earned Germany`s Paralympian of the year title in 2005 and 2009. In 2006, he was elected into the athletes council of NPC Germany. In 2008, Michael was appointed a Paralympian Ambassador by IPC President Sir Philip Craven.

What’s more, Michael is a committed supporter of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and having become an excellent role mode and great example of the strength sport can offer in the face of great diversity, he became a Laureus Ambassador in 2005, helping spread the Sport for Good message.

In fact, Michael, joined by none other than tennis legend and Laureus Academy Member Martina Navratilova climbed Mt Kilimanjaro in 2010.

His is truly an inspiring story. We look forward to seeing him race once more at the London Paralympics.

It should be a great show!