Gerd Schönfelder

Gerd Schönfelder

Schönfelder in 2019
Medal record
Men's para alpine skiing
Representing  Germany
Paralympic Games
	1992 Albertville	Giant slalom, LW1,3,5/7,9
	1992 Albertville	Downhill, LW1,3,5/7,9
	1992 Albertville	Super-G, LW1,3,5/7,9
	1994 Lillehammer	Downhill, LW5/7
	1994 Lillehammer	Slalom, LW5/7
	1998 Nagano	Slalom, LW1,3,5/7
	2002 Salt Lake City	Downhill, LW3,5/7,9
	2002 Salt Lake City	Giant slalom, LW3,5/7,9
	2002 Salt Lake City	Slalom, LW3,5/7,9
	2002 Salt Lake City	Super-G, LW3,5/7,9
	2006 Turin	Downhill, standing
	2006 Turin	Giant slalom, standing
	2010 Vancouver	Downhill, standing
	2010 Vancouver	Super-G, standing
	2010 Vancouver	Giant slalom, standing
	2010 Vancouver	Super combined, standing
	1994 Lillehammer	Super-G, LW5/7
	1994 Lillehammer	Giant slalom, LW5/7
	2006 Turin	Super-G, standing
	2010 Vancouver	Slalom, standing
	1998 Nagano	Giant slalom, LW1,3,5/7
	2006 Turin	Slalom, standing

Gerd Schönfelder (born 2 September 1970 in Kulmain) is a German para-alpine skier, one of the most decorated in the sport's history.

Biography

Gerd Schönfelder was born as the middle of three children; he has an older sister as well as a younger brother. During his youth he already did many types of sports, including skiing. However, prior to his accident he never had interest making a career out of it.

On September 11 1989, Schönfelder tried to catch a train in Hersbruck who was already leaving the station. Back then it was still possible to open the doors while it was driving. However, due to holding his jacket in his left hand, he wasn't able to get in. While making every attempt to open the door, Schönfelder stumbled, his right leg was stuck between the wagons and he got dragged below the train. He ducked, but due to him lying on the shoulder and his left hand laying on the rails by accident, he was hit by the train's bottom. In spite of his severe injuries, he got up by himself and was taken to the hospital in Erlangen. The doctors were able to save his life, however, they forced to amputate both his right arm (including the shoulder) and all fingers of his left hand safe for the thumb. Even though it seemed like he could do nothing by himself anymore, his friends helped him to find joy in life again, they even would build a motorcycle he could use with the remainder of his hand. He also played soccer and eventually got into skiing. Eventually he heard of the Paralympics and due to his young age, he decided to make it a career. Also, in early 1991, through an operation, his left toe was transplanted on his hand, so that he could grab things again and manage life by himself.

Schönfelder won his first three gold medals at the 1992 Winter Paralympics.^[1] He has won an overall of sixteen gold medals at the Winter Paralympics, including four gold medals at the Salt Lake 2002 Games as well as four gold medals at the Vancouver 2010 Games^[2][3] and has won 22 Paralympic medals in his career. For his performance at the 2010 Games Schonfelder was won Best Male at the Paralympic Sports Awards.^[4]

He retired from skiing in January 2011.^[5][6]

See also

• Athletes with most gold medals in one event at the Paralympic Games

References

• Athlete Search Results - Schoenfelder, Gerd - International Paralympic Committee^{[dead link]}

External links

• Official website
• Gerd Schoenfelder at the International Paralympic Committee
• Gerd Schoenfelder at IPC.InfostradaSports.com (archived)

This page was last edited on 19 August 2023, at 17:32