Markus Rehm, Paralympic long jump champion and world record holder, has remained undefeated for 13 years, inspiring athletes while pushing limits, with sights set on the 2028 Paralympics.
BERLIN, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Some time ago, Steffi Nerius commissioned a unique gift: a drinking bottle inscribed with the words "Master of the Skies." Nerius, the 2009 javelin world champion and 2004 Olympic silver medalist, is the coach of Germany's Paralympic long jumper and sprinter Markus Rehm.
The inscription on the bottle seems to perfectly capture the athletic career of the 36-year-old Rehm, who secured his fifth Paralympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games - four in the long jump and one in the 4x100-meter relay.
Remaining undefeated in long jump at major competitions for 13 years highlights the exceptional talent of an athlete who appears to know no limits.
Rehm, the world record holder in the T64 classification with a jump of 8.72 meters, once again met expectations at the Stade de France, finishing first with a jump of 8.13 meters. He beat American athletes Derek Loccident (7.79 meters) and Jarryd Wallace (7.49 meters).
Rehm is undeniably one of the stars of Paralympic sports. At age 14, he lost his right lower leg in a wakeboarding accident. Despite the setback, Rehm, now a professional athlete and orthopaedic technician, began an unprecedented career.
In terms of achievements, Rehm's accomplishments are comparable to able-bodied athletic greats like Carl Lewis, who won four Olympic or Paralympic gold medals in the long jump.
Rehm has also paved the way for Paralympic athletes to compete in non-disabled events, though there remain ongoing debates about whether prosthetics offer an advantage, according to the German athletics association.
Despite his reputation for being cool under pressure, Rehm couldn't hold back tears when he rang the winner's bell - a bell from Notre Dame Cathedral.
"It was deeply emotional to ring that bell and know I could one day tell my children, 'Your dad once rang the bell in a Paris stadium,'" Rehm said.
Rehm mentioned that he still feels motivated to continue competing, even possibly targeting the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles.
"Four years is a long time, but I still feel strong and motivated. We'll see how long I can keep the youngsters at bay," he said with a smile.
The German athlete also expressed happiness at seeing so many young competitors taking up the sport, and he hopes to inspire more athletes to pursue long jumping.
Before the 2024 Paralympics, Rehm and his team discussed breaking the nine-meter barrier. Although he didn't achieve that goal, he continued to defy expectations.
"We've reached a point we always wanted to be at. The blade-jumpers are on fire," Rehm said. ■
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