After the individual time trial, Maike Hausberger and her entire team lost their composure. The 29-year-old was speechless. Another medal is possible.
Maike Hausberger wasn’t the only one who shed tears after her Paralympics gold in the individual time trial. “Everyone around me won. The technicians, the mechanics, the physiotherapists,” said the 29-year-old cyclist. After winning bronze on the track, Hausberger now achieved a real coup on the road. “I have no words for what I’m doing here,” she explained.
Hausberger, who has paralysis on the left side of her body, outwitted her competitors in Clichy-sous-Bois, just outside Paris. She needed 21:45.30 minutes for the 14.2 kilometers, more than 15 seconds ahead of Frances Brown from Great Britain. “I love this course,” enthused the two-time medalist. “I knew I had the power.”
Uncertainty in the goal
At the finish she still didn’t know she had triumphed. “I was beside myself at first, as I often am after a time trial. It wasn’t until my manager showed me the results that it all came out of me,” explained Hausberger. “This is just awesome.”
Things haven’t always looked rosy in the past. Hausberger used to be active in para-triathlon. However, after her class didn’t make it to the Paralympics, she stopped training at the highest level for a few months. “I’ve thought about quitting more than once,” she explained. “The last few years have been incredibly tough.”
Switching from triathlon to cycling
However, she couldn’t do without competitive sport. She switched to para-cycling in 2018 and has been active at the base in Cottbus ever since. Ten months later, she became world champion in the road race for the first time. Five more world championship titles on the track and road followed – with the preliminary highlight on Thursday near the French capital.
Hausberger’s medal collection in Clichy-sous-Bois doesn’t have to be over. The final road race is still scheduled for Saturday. She came third at the last World Championships in Glasgow. “There’s definitely something in it,” she beamed. “But now I want to celebrate.”
Teuber wins silver after serious accident
Paraplegic Michael Teuber was also able to celebrate his silver medal. The 56-year-old was only beaten by Spaniard Ricardo Ten Argiles. “I’m overjoyed,” said Teuber, beaming.
In March, he broke several ribs, a thoracic vertebra and his collarbone in a collision with a car on the island of Lanzarote. “It was a tough year with the accident in the spring and now I’ve managed to get the medal,” Teuber emphasised.
Bronze for Zeyen-Giles and Schindler
Annika Zeyen-Giles and Matthias Schindler completed the medal set for the German cycling team with their third places. Although the paraplegic Zeyen-Giles could not defend her gold from Tokyo 2021, she was still more than satisfied. “I’m super happy that I got bronze,” said the 39-year-old. Schindler confirmed the bronze medal from three years ago.
Source: Stern
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