Heinz Frei

Heinz Frei is a Swiss paraplegic athlete, born on March 28, 1958, in Frutigen, Switzerland. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest disabled athletes of all time. Frei began his professional career as a wheelchair racer before expanding to handbiking and sit-skiing.

Frei is known for his incredible speed, strength, endurance, and versatility. He has won numerous individual awards and holds multiple records, including the most marathon wins in a wheelchair.

Off the field, Frei is also recognized for his philanthropy and influence, making significant charitable contributions and inspiring millions worldwide.

Wheelchair Racing

• Youth and Early Career: Frei was involved in a skiing accident at the age of 20 which left him paraplegic. Despite the setback, he turned to wheelchair racing and quickly established himself as one of the top racers in the world.

Handbiking

• Transition and Success: Later in his career, Frei transitioned to handbiking. He won multiple world championships in this discipline, further establishing his dominance in disability sports.

Sit-Skiing

• New Challenges: Frei also took up sit-skiing, competing in both cross-country and biathlon events. His versatility and determination in tackling new challenges are hallmarks of his career.

Paralympic Games

• Debut: Made his debut in Paralympic Games in 1984.

Achievements:

• Paralympic Medals: Winner of 15 Paralympic gold medals across three different sports.
• World Championships: Dominated world championships in both wheelchair racing and handbiking, winning multiple gold medals.
• Frei has set numerous world records and is recognized as one of the most decorated Paralympic athletes of all time.

• Disciplines: Primarily known for wheelchair racing, but also excels in handbiking and sit-skiing.
• Skills: Known for his incredible speed, strength, endurance, and versatility. Frei is celebrated for his adaptability, resilience, and competitive spirit.

• Family: Frei is married and has one child.
• Philanthropy: Frei is involved in various charitable activities and has donated significant sums to organizations supporting disabled sports.

• Heinz Frei is celebrated not only for his extraordinary talent and numerous records but also for his resilience, determination, and longevity in disabled sports. His impact on the sport and his status as an icon extend beyond the field, inspiring millions of fans around the world.

Most Marathon Wins in Wheelchair:

• Over 100 wins

Most Gold Medals in Paralympic Games:

• 15 gold medals

Most World Championship Wins:

• Multiple gold medals in both wheelchair racing and handbiking

Books

• Frei, H. (2012) Pushing Limits: From West Africa to the North Pole. Zurich: AS Verlag.

Websites

• IPC Athlete Bio: Information about Heinz Frei’s international career and achievements. Available at: https://www.paralympic.org/heinz-frei
• Swiss Paralympic: Details about Frei’s career and achievements. Available at: https://www.swissparalympic.ch

Articles

• IPC: Heinz Frei: Career in numbers. Available at: https://www.paralympic.org/news/heinz-frei-career-numbers
• BBC Sport: Heinz Frei’s career highlights and records. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/53909748