About
Heinz Frei had an accident in 1978 during a mountain race, fell into a gorge, and suffered a spinal cord injury. He was just 20 years old when he had to learn to live life in a wheelchair.
No longer being able to stand on his own was initially a shock for Heinz Frei. However, he also saw it as an opportunity: the chance to redesign his life independently. With discipline, self-responsibility, courage, and optimism, he embarked on a journey of discovering the "still possible." Step by step, he regained independence and quality of life—and even found new joy in life. This led to a sports career that no one would have thought possible. As a pioneer, he had to construct his first sports equipment by hand, whereas today, high-tech teams, including Formula 1 engineers, develop racing wheelchairs.
Heinz Frei competed in his first Paralympic Games in Stoke Mandeville, England—back then a rather simple field, forest, and meadow competition. This is a stark contrast to Paris 2024, where the Games are now held at the highest professional level. Since 1992, an agreement between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has stipulated that the Paralympic Games must be organized immediately after the Olympic Games.
Heinz Frei is married to Rita Frei, has two children from a previous marriage, and is now the grandfather of two granddaughters.