In 2016 in Rio, Peter Genyn won his first medal at the Paralympic Games and eight years later he has already won five with bronze in the 200 meters. On Friday he will go for another medal in the 100 meters. Genyn is not sure what the future holds. “It will be very difficult to reach LA,” he said in Een dag in Parijs.
Peter Genyn still had a medal ceremony in the Stade de France to attend, but he was happy to make time for A Day in Paris first. His bronze medal in the 200 meters clearly pleased him.
“I still think it’s fantastic. We mainly focused on the 100 meters, because I was injured last winter. Winning a medal now is great.”
Because the road to Paris 2024 was definitely bumpy for Genyn. He struggled with an injury, fell ill several times and could not train in the best conditions.
I got sick because I had to train in the rain. It was terribly frustrating that I couldn’t train in the Topsporthal.
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Peter Genyn
“I came out of that injury quite well and started to ride really good times again. But it rained a lot in Belgium. The Topsporthal in Ghent was occupied, so I had to train in the rain.”
“I’ve gotten sick from that a few times. The last time I got sick, I really struggled with it for a long time.”
“I was completely unhappy that I couldn’t train in the Topsporthal. It’s the only indoor hall in all of Flanders. It was terribly frustrating.”
“Mentally it was very difficult. It’s the first time I didn’t come to the Games with full confidence.”
Resin, Genyn’s secret weapon
Immediately after his race, Peter Genyn was interviewed by Linde
Merckpoel, also a guest in A Day in Paris. She especially wanted to know why Genyn sticks sticky resin to his gloves.
Not exactly the question Genyn was expecting, but he happily explained the art of wheelchair sprinting. “The resin makes the wheels look ugly, but it is efficient.”
“I glue myself to my wheelchair. I drive with the backs of my hands, while most people hit with their fists. I do it this way because I don’t need my triceps as much, I drive purely on my biceps and my forearm. But then you need grip.”
“The future? Right now I’m only concerned with that 100 meters”
For Genyn, the focus for these Games was not on the 200 meters, but on the 100 meters. On Friday, he will probably meet Canadian Cody Fournie again in the battle for gold, who surprisingly won gold in the 200 meters.
“I could see him coming. He’s been playing internationally for two or three years now. He’s also an ex-rugby player like me. The entire stage consisted of ex-rugby players, clearly a good breeding ground.”
“I rate him a little higher than myself, but I’ll definitely tell him on Friday
don’t make it easy.”
“The preparation wasn’t perfect and then you just have to be realistic. Of course you still want gold and I’m going to do my utmost to get it in the 100 meters.”
I’m not getting any younger, but I still love doing it. Getting to LA is going to be really hard.
Peter Genyn
Genyn doesn’t want to think about what will happen after Friday. “I don’t know how long I want to continue. Right now, the 100 meters is the next goal. I’ve only been working on that. After that, I’m going to go on a proper vacation.”
Genyn, who will turn 48 at the end of this year, has not yet made a statement about the LA Games. Clearing his head and thinking things through, that will be the assignment.
“It’s going to be very difficult to get to LA. I’m not getting any younger, but I still love doing it. It’s a difficult decision. I’m not going to hide it: I’m also afraid of the black hole.”
Related:
Linde Merckpoel and Peter Genyn
Ruben Van Gucht looks back on the day from the Lotto Paralympic Belgium House in the heart of Paris with a Paralympian. In addition, a well-known sports fan joins us each time, who immerses themselves in the Paralympic Games for a day.
Tuesday 20/0832 min
watch on VRT Max
Peter Genyn: The Paralympic Sprinter’s Journey to Glory and Uncertainty
Peter Genyn, the Belgian wheelchair sprinter, has made history by winning his fifth Paralympic medal, a bronze in the 200 meters, at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. This remarkable feat comes eight years after his first medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. As Genyn gears up for the 100 meters on Friday, he reflects on his journey, the challenges he’s faced, and the uncertainty of his future in the sport.
Overcoming Adversity
Genyn’s road to Paris 2024 was nothing short of bumpy. He struggled with an injury, fell ill multiple times, and was forced to train in suboptimal conditions. “I got sick because I had to train in the rain. It was terribly frustrating that I couldn’t train in the Topsporthal,” he said in an interview with A Day in Paris. The Topsporthal in Ghent, the only indoor hall in Flanders, was occupied, leaving Genyn to brave the rain and subsequently fall ill.
Despite these setbacks, Genyn persevered and began to post impressive times again. However, the mental toll of these challenges was significant. “Mentally it was very difficult. It’s the first time I didn’t come to the Games with full confidence,” he admitted.
The Secret to Genyn’s Success
One of the keys to Genyn’s success lies in his unique approach to wheelchair sprinting. He uses sticky resin on his gloves to improve his grip, a technique that sets him apart from other athletes. “I glue myself to my wheelchair. I drive with the backs of my hands, while most people hit with their fists. I do it this way because I don’t need my triceps as much, I drive purely on my biceps and my forearm. But then you need grip,” he explained.
The Battle for Gold
Genyn’s focus for the Paris 2024 Games has been on the 100 meters, where he will face stiff competition from Canadian Cody Fournie, who surprised everyone by winning gold in the 200 meters. “I could see him coming. He’s been playing internationally for two or three years now. He’s also an ex-rugby player like me. The entire stage consisted of ex-rugby players, clearly a good breeding ground,” Genyn said.
Despite the challenges he’s faced, Genyn remains determined to win gold. ”I rate him a little higher than myself, but I’ll definitely tell him on Friday, don’t make it easy,” he said with a smile.
An Uncertain Future
As Genyn looks beyond the Paris 2024 Games, he’s unsure of what the future holds. “I don’t know how long I want to continue. Right now, the 100 meters is the next goal. I’ve only been working on that. After that, I’m going to go on a proper vacation,” he said.
At 48 years old, Genyn acknowledges that getting to the LA Games will be extremely difficult. “I’m not getting any younger, but I still love doing it. It’s a difficult decision. I’m not going to hide it: I’m also afraid of the black hole,” he confessed.
As Genyn takes on the 100 meters on Friday, the world will be watching to see if he can add another medal to his collection. One thing is certain, however – Peter Genyn’s dedication, perseverance, and passion for wheelchair sprinting have left an indelible mark on the sport.
Optimized Keywords: Peter Genyn, Paralympic Games, wheelchair sprinting, Paris 2024, Cody Fournie, LA Games.
