Edward Maalouf
Encyclopedia
Edward Maalouf is a Lebanese competitive handcyclist, and the only person to have won medals for Lebanon at the Paralympic Games
.
In 1995, while at work, he fell from the sixth floor of a building in Beyrouth, and was left paraplegic
. In 1997, he began to train in disability sport. In 2006, he won the handycle marathon in New York
. In 2007, he won silver in the disability cycling world championships in Bordeaux
. Later that same year, he won the European Handbike circuit, and the Beyrouth handcycle marathon.
Maalouf won the international handcycle marathon again in 2008, and came third in 2009 after rupturing a tyre and having to spend about two minutes replacing it.
In 2008, he took part for the first time in the Paralympic Games
in Beijing
. This was Lebanon's second participation in the Games. Its first, in 2000
, had been disappointing. Lebanon had been represented by two sprinters in athletics (T44 category). One, Hussein Ghandour, had been a non-starter in the men's 400m race, while the other, Mahmoud Habbal, had failed to finish his race in the 800m. Lebanon was absent from the 2004 Summer Paralympics
, and sent Maalouf as its only competitor to the Beijing Games. To prepare himself, Maalouf underwent intensive training in the Netherlands
, and was accompanied by two Dutch coaches in Beijing. He was, unsurprisingly, his country's flag bearer
during the opening ceremony
.
He competed in two events: the time trial and the road race, both in category HC B - B being "for athletes with complete loss of lower limb function and limited trunk stability". In the time trial, he was one of fifteen competitors, and finished third with a time of 22:12.91 - 0.85 seconds behind Vittorio Podesta of Italy
. Heinz Frei
of Switzerland
won gold in 22:06.23. Maalouf had thus won his country's first Paralympic medal. In the road race, he was again one of fifteen competitors, and again won the bronze medal. His time of 1:28:26 was just one second behind Heinz Frei's winning time (1:28:25), and was identical (within a second) to that of silver medallist Max Weber (of Germany
).
Maalouf later said that he had been exhausted during the second race. He went "straight to the hospital" afterwards, and was diagnosed with a blood infection. He then spent four months in hospital.
After the Games, he also stated that he had received very little support from the Lebanese authorities. They had provided him, he said, only with plane tickets and a tracksuit, and he had received no official recognition -other than congratulations from the Lebanese ambassador to China- after his performance.
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
.
In 1995, while at work, he fell from the sixth floor of a building in Beyrouth, and was left paraplegic
Paraplegia
Paraplegia is an impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities. The word comes from Ionic Greek: παραπληγίη "half-striking". It is usually the result of spinal cord injury or a congenital condition such as spina bifida that affects the neural elements of the spinal canal...
. In 1997, he began to train in disability sport. In 2006, he won the handycle marathon in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. In 2007, he won silver in the disability cycling world championships in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
. Later that same year, he won the European Handbike circuit, and the Beyrouth handcycle marathon.
Maalouf won the international handcycle marathon again in 2008, and came third in 2009 after rupturing a tyre and having to spend about two minutes replacing it.
In 2008, he took part for the first time in the Paralympic Games
2008 Summer Paralympics
The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, the thirteenth Paralympics, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to September 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao....
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. This was Lebanon's second participation in the Games. Its first, in 2000
2000 Summer Paralympics
The 2000 Paralympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia, from 18 October to 29 October. The eleventh Summer Paralympic Games, an estimated 3800 athletes took part in the Sydney programme. They commenced with the opening ceremony on 18 October 2000...
, had been disappointing. Lebanon had been represented by two sprinters in athletics (T44 category). One, Hussein Ghandour, had been a non-starter in the men's 400m race, while the other, Mahmoud Habbal, had failed to finish his race in the 800m. Lebanon was absent from the 2004 Summer Paralympics
2004 Summer Paralympics
The 2004 Summer Paralympics were held in Athens, Greece, from September 17 to September 28. The twelfth Paralympic Games, an estimated 4,000 athletes took part in the Athens programme, with ages ranging from 11 to 66. Paralympic events had already taken place during the 2004 Summer Olympics as...
, and sent Maalouf as its only competitor to the Beijing Games. To prepare himself, Maalouf underwent intensive training in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and was accompanied by two Dutch coaches in Beijing. He was, unsurprisingly, his country's flag bearer
2008 Summer Paralympics national flag bearers
During the Parade of Nations at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, athletes from each participating country paraded in the stadium, preceded by their flag. The flag was borne by a sportsperson from that country chosen either by the National Paralympic Committee or by the...
during the opening ceremony
2008 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony
The 2008 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony was held at the Beijing National Stadium on September 6, 2008 just two weeks after the end of the 2008 Summer Olympics. The event was themed "One World, One Dream" and "Transcendence, Integration, Equality." The show was attended by about 91,000 to...
.
He competed in two events: the time trial and the road race, both in category HC B - B being "for athletes with complete loss of lower limb function and limited trunk stability". In the time trial, he was one of fifteen competitors, and finished third with a time of 22:12.91 - 0.85 seconds behind Vittorio Podesta of Italy
Italy at the Paralympics
Italy has sent delegations to the Summer Paralympics since the first games in 1960, and to the Winter Paralympics since 1980.The Paralympic Games are a multi-sport event for athletes with physical and sensorial disabilities. This includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness,...
. Heinz Frei
Heinz Frei
Heinz Frei is a Swiss wheelchair athlete. Frei has had a long career of racing, winning the London Marathon wheelchair race three times, and earning 5 medals at the 2003 European games at the age of 45...
of Switzerland
Switzerland at the Paralympics
Switzerland made its Paralympic Games début at the inaugural Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960 , and has participated in every edition of the Summer Paralympics...
won gold in 22:06.23. Maalouf had thus won his country's first Paralympic medal. In the road race, he was again one of fifteen competitors, and again won the bronze medal. His time of 1:28:26 was just one second behind Heinz Frei's winning time (1:28:25), and was identical (within a second) to that of silver medallist Max Weber (of Germany
Germany at the Paralympics
Germany participated in the inaugural Paralympic Games in 1960 in Rome, where it sent a delegation of nine athletes. The country, since 1949 officially the Federal Republic of Germany , was until 1990 also called West Germany while the separate East German Democratic Republic existed, which was...
).
Maalouf later said that he had been exhausted during the second race. He went "straight to the hospital" afterwards, and was diagnosed with a blood infection. He then spent four months in hospital.
After the Games, he also stated that he had received very little support from the Lebanese authorities. They had provided him, he said, only with plane tickets and a tracksuit, and he had received no official recognition -other than congratulations from the Lebanese ambassador to China- after his performance.