Heinz Frei
Encyclopedia
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. He has earned 14 gold medals at the summer and winter Paralympics and is a current world record holder in the 10,000 meters, half-marathon, and marathon wheelchair races. He competed in athletics at every Summer Paralympic Games from 1984 to 2008, and at the 2008 Beijing Games
he also participated in cycling, using a handcycle. At the Winter Paralympics, he competed in cross-country sit-skiing between 1984 and 2006 and in the biathlon
in 1994.
Frei plans on retiring from track competition at an event on August 28, 2009, though he will continue competing in road races.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
wheelchair athlete
Wheelchair racing
Wheelchair racing is the racing of wheelchairs in track and road races. Wheelchair racing is open to athletes with any qualifying type of disability, amputees, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and partially sighted . Athletes are classified in accordance with the nature and severity of their...
. Frei has had a long career of racing, winning the London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
wheelchair race three times, and earning 5 medals at the 2003 European games at the age of 45. He has earned 14 gold medals at the summer and winter Paralympics and is a current world record holder in the 10,000 meters, half-marathon, and marathon wheelchair races. He competed in athletics at every Summer Paralympic Games from 1984 to 2008, and at the 2008 Beijing 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....
he also participated in cycling, using a handcycle. At the Winter Paralympics, he competed in cross-country sit-skiing between 1984 and 2006 and in the biathlon
Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
in 1994.
Frei plans on retiring from track competition at an event on August 28, 2009, though he will continue competing in road races.
See also
- Athletes with most gold medals in one event at the Paralympic Games