Fresh from winning a silver medal at this summer's European Championships, Hungarian para-canoeist Róbert Suba has his sights set on a gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Suba, who claimed silver at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, is no stranger to the podium. But his journey to success has been anything but ordinary.
At 19, a parachute accident left him paralyzed from the waist down, a life-changing event that could have derailed his aspirations of becoming a professional athlete.
#paralympics #paris2024
Suba, who claimed silver at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, is no stranger to the podium. But his journey to success has been anything but ordinary.
At 19, a parachute accident left him paralyzed from the waist down, a life-changing event that could have derailed his aspirations of becoming a professional athlete.
#paralympics #paris2024
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00:00The summer sun blazes down as Robert Szubach, Hungary's leading para canoeist, sharpens his skills for the Paris Olympics.
00:11At the time I didn't fully grasp how the accident would change my life. It took a while for me to adjust and learn to live in a wheelchair.
00:20But over time I found a lot of positives and accepted my new way of life.
00:25Now I'm happy with a wonderful family and focused on preparing for the Paralympics. Everything's going well and that's what matters most.
00:33With a silver medal from the 2016 Rio Games under his belt, Szubach is no stranger to the podium.
00:39His journey has been anything but ordinary. At 19, a parachute accident left him paralyzed from the waist down.
00:46The life-changing event could have derailed his dream of becoming a professional athlete.
00:53I missed Tokyo by just two tenths of a second, which was a tough mental blow. But I've moved on and focused all my energy on training for Paris.
01:03Szubach transformed adversity into opportunity by challenging his determination into para canoeing.
01:09Over the last eight years he's gone on to win multiple world championship medals and a European championship title.
01:17Szubach is training six days a week, focusing on improving his endurance on the water.
01:23At 44 years, the Paralympian is paying close attention to how his body reacts to the training and recovery.
01:32But overall he says he's in good shape for the Games.
01:38His coach Christian Schabel recognizes the tough competition in Paris, but remains hopeful about Szubach's chances.
01:46The biggest challenge will be the wind, especially if it's coming from the right, making it tough for him to stay steady.
01:53Waves could add to the difficulty as well. We're aiming to be among the top three.
01:59One of the most crucial aspects of Szubach's canoe is his customized seat.
02:04It is essential for maximizing his performance and it is a vital part of his success on the water.
02:12Since I don't feel anything below my waist, this seat is crucial for me to transfer force to the boat effectively.
02:20It essentially replaces the function of my legs.
02:24With the Paris Games potentially marking the final chapter of his extraordinary career, Szubach is driven by a past full of highs and lows.
02:33He believes Paralympic glory is within reach and will push his performance to the limit in pursuit of gold.
02:40Pablo Gutiérrez, CGTN, Szeged, Hungary.