Vico Merklein

VICO MERKLEIN

Handbike
Vico Merklein
"I don´t train every day for second place. My only goal is winning a gold medal."
#TeamSunrise

MY ONLY GOAL

Part of the German national para-cycling team, I won a silver medal at the Paralympic Games in London 2012 and also set a world record in handcycling, achieving a marathon distance of 00:58:56. Since 2015, after intensive winter training, I have been always under the first three at the World Cup races. 

In Rio in 2016 I was able to experience what it's like to win gold at the Paralympics. This experience is one of the most important in my life and I want to experience it again in Tokyo. That's why I train hard every day. 

I don´t train every day for second place. My only goal is winning a gold medal.

#TeamSunrise

ACCEPTING MY DISABILITY

I was born in Berlin, Germany in 1977, although I live in Hessen since 1988. In 1997 I suffered a life-changing motorcycle accident in 1997 that left me paraplegic. From that moment, I had to learn to accept my disability. During this time I met many people who showed me how easie is to handle. 

Three years after my accident, I discovered my passion - handcycling. It just gave me a feeling of self-confidence, the motivation to work for the goals in my life. After joining Team QUICKIE/SOPUR in 2007, my competitive success began. 

"I love to get the most out of my body every day and think about how the material can be improved. I want to make the sport faster and more attractive."
My sports wheelchair
"I love my QUICKIE Shark RS simply for its many possibilities in terms of adjustments. "
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My everyday wheelchair
"My QUICKIE Xenon2 is ideal for me purely because of its easy handling."
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My everyday wheelchair
"My QUICKIE Xenon2 is ideal for me purely because of its easy handling."
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ROAD TO
GLORY

2019
Para-cycling Road World Championships - Emmen

Gold - Time Trial

Gold - Road Cycling

2018
Para-cycling Road World Championships - Maniago

Bronze - Road Cycling

2016
Paralympic Games (Rio)
Time Trial - Bronze Medal
Road Cycling - Gold Medal
2015
World Championships
2nd Position
2014
World Championships
2nd Position
2013
World Championships
2nd Position
2012
Paralympic Games (London)
2nd Position
2011
World Championships
2nd Position
2010
World Championships
3rd Position