Status: 04.09.2024 23:47
Long jumper Markus Rehm won gold at the Paralympics for the fourth time on Wednesday (September 4, 2024). To describe him, his companions only resort to superlatives.
The statement by Sportschau expert Heinrich Popow is as compelling as it is undisputed: “He is the king among Paralympic athletes.” The Paralympic champion from 2012 (100 metres) and 2016 (long jump) said this after his former teammate Rehm won gold in the long jump in the T64 class for the fourth time in a row and for the fifth time overall at the Paralympics.
“I don’t know if King Markus is correct, but I am definitely incredibly proud and grateful. A dream has come true”said the 36-year-old himself in an interview with Sportschau after his latest triumph. Rehm was already the figurehead of para-athletics, the best in his field in terms of sport – even in his 14th year he has won every competition so far – and he managed to bring the para-long jump to the Diamond League. Rehm has influence like no other, and he continues to deliver.
“The fourth gold medal at the fourth Games is unbelievable”
Nobody doubted that he would win gold. But he still has to make it happen. Many of his athletics colleagues did not manage to do that in Paris, but Rehm did it with the confidence of a true champion – his first jump (7.83 m) was enough, and four of his six attempts were gold-worthy.
In the end, he achieved 8.13 m, which was below his own expectations, but clearly ahead of the Americans Derek Loccident (silver, 7.79 m) and Jarryd Wallace (bronze, 7.49 m). The second German, Noah Bodelier from Cologne, came sixth with 6.98 m.
“It was a tough competition for all of us, but at the end of the day the medal is what counts, and gold is incredibly great”said the long jumper. “It’s unbelievable when you win your fourth gold medal at the fourth Games. That was the goal, but at the end of the day doing it against strong competition is another matter.”
The Rehm memorial continues to grow
“Nobody asks about the vastness of today“, said Popow, which Rehm underlined with his statements despite all his nine-meter ambitions. Only gold counted, only making history, because he is now the only one alongside Carl Lewis, a role model for every long jumper, to have stood at the top of the podium in his discipline four times in a row at the Olympic or Paralympic Games as an athlete.
Rehm floats through Paris. The fact that he is in an exceptional position was made clear again at the opening ceremony of the Paralympics, when he was appointed as a torch runner. And his performance in the competition has left these impressions standing; his monument did not crumble for a second, but rather grew a little bigger.
The “Lord of the Skies” strikes again
On a bottle that he received from his trainer Steffi Nerius, it says “Lord of the Skies” – the next superlative that probably no one would disagree with. For an athlete who has shaped his sport for over a decade and is simply unbeatable. “Steffi always comes up with something really special. That always gives us that extra motivation”said Rehm.
He announced a long night of partying after his latest gold coup – which, however, will include a piquant detail due to a lost bet. “Because I didn’t manage 8.20 meters, I have to serve at the party in a very special outfit. But I do it with great pleasure and joy.”said Rehm. So he can also lose – just not in his sport.
