Markus Mendy SWOBODA (AUT)
Austria
Age:
34 years
Languages:
German, English
Biography
Further Personal Information
NICKNAME
Mendy is not my nickname, it's my second first name.
BIOGRAPHY
At Rio 2016, Swoboda became the first Austrian canoeist to win a Paralympic medal in the sport, when he claimed silver in the KL2 200m. A member of the armed forces, he has served as canoe athletes' representative on the sports advisory board of the Austrian Paralympic Committee.
OCCUPATION
Student
HIGHER EDUCATION
Chemistry - University of Graz, Austria
WHEN/WHERE DID YOU START CANOEING/ KAYAKING?
I started kayaking when I was 10 years old in the year 2000. I paddled in Linz in the kayak our family got from a friend. Later I was discovered from my current club while paddling.
REASON FOR TAKING UP THE SPORT
His father was an athlete and he originally wanted to be water skier. "I was discovered by accident when I was playing around in a canoe
HOBBIES
Skiing, swimming, playing video games.
CLUB
UKRV Schnecke Linz
NAME OF COACH
Nandor Almasi (national), Gyorgy Lentuloy (personal)
NATIONALITY OF YOUR COACH
Both Hungarien
SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU BEEN COACHED BY HIM/ HER?
Nandor 2011, Gyorgy 2014
TRAINING REGIME
It's flexible and not too strict, but still hard work.
SENIOR INTERNATIONAL DEBUT YEAR
2009
SENIOR INTERNATIONAL DEBUT COUNTRY
Poland
SENIOR INTERNATIONAL DEBUT COMPETITION
U23 European Championships
SENIOR INTERNATIONAL DEBUT LOCATION
Poznan
MEMORABLE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
World Championships | ||||
1 | KL2 | 2015 | Milan, ITA | 42.542 |
1 | K1 200m TA | 2014 | Moscow, RUS | 40.928 |
1 | K1 200m TA | 2013 | Duisburg, GER | 40.790 |
1 | K1 200m TA | 2012 | Poznan, POL | 44.614 |
1 | K1 200m TA | 2011 | Szeged, HUN | 44.055 |
1 | K1 200m TA | 2010 | Poznan, POL | 44.617 |
2 | KL2 | 2016 | Duisburg, GER | 43.068 |
8 | V1 200m TA | 2014 | Moscow, RUS | 54.867 |
PREFERRED POSITION / STANCE / STYLE / TECHNIQUE
Sitting in a Kayak
MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN CAREER
My father
OTHER INFORMATION
Classification
KL2
Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency (Athlete, 06 Sep 2016)
Origin of Impairment
Acquired (Athlete, 06 Sep 2016)
Impairment Details
He lost both legs at age seven in an accident involving a woodchip heating system. (Athlete, 06 Sep 2016)
KL2
Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency (Athlete, 06 Sep 2016)
Origin of Impairment
Acquired (Athlete, 06 Sep 2016)
Impairment Details
He lost both legs at age seven in an accident involving a woodchip heating system. (Athlete, 06 Sep 2016)
CLASSIFICATION
KL1
BEST RESULTS
Paralympics: Silver - 1; World Championships: Gold -6, Silver - 3, Bronze -1.
OTHER SPORTS
He won a silver medal at the 2016 World Para Karate Championships in Linz, Austria