Sports At Any Age

Before joining Special Olympics, Gerhard lived a rather different way of life. He worked as a bricklayer, while still leading an independent and active lifestyle. However, after retiring, living alone became increasingly difficult, and he made the decision to move into the Dornau residential home. It was there that he found both companionship and also a renewed love for physical activity. A passion for the outdoors, his enthusiasm for sports quickly became a central part of his life at Dornau.“I am very proud to have made it here,” he often says of his time at the Games. His coach, Ernst Lueger, is equally proud, as is all of Team Austria, recognising how much courage it takes to step onto this global stage, especially at Gerhard’s age.Gerhard competed in the divisioning rounds of snowshoeing, an important part of the Games, that ensures athletes are placed in fair and evenly matched divisions. Unfortunately, he was forced to withdraw from the 200m competition on Thursday due to minor health issues, which was naturally disappointing.