Paratriathlon Community Pays Tribute to Paratrialete Markus Häusling in Kitzbuhel

by Olalla Cernuda on 20 Jun, 2017 11:11 • Español
Paratriathlon Community Pays Tribute to Paratrialete Markus Häusling in Kitzbuhel

Successful Paratriathlete Markus Häusling lost his battle against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) last December. To celebrate his lasting memory, his positive spirit and his immense sense of humour, a warm tribute was held last weekend at the Kitzbühel ETU Triathlon European Championships, where fellow paratriathletes, family, friends and ITU staff paid their respects to the beloved Paratriathlete.

Markus was working as a prison guard in a high-security prison near Kassel, Germany. His medical problem started in 2004, when he was paralysed while playing a football match. A month later, he was diagnosed with ALS. He debuted on Paratriathlon five years later, at the German Super-Sprint Championships, and he kept pushing the limits and participating on qualification paratriathlon races with his goal in mind: the Paralympic Games, which were going to be the debut of Paratriathlon un Rio 2016.

His aim had been to go to Rio but this aggressive disease had other plans. Rio was off the calendar but rather than walk away from it all Markus devoted what time he had to the charity. And in a grand gesture of friendship, he gave his hand bike to Brazilian athlete, Fernando Aranha, who raced in Rotterdam earlier this year and had a top ten finish in Rio with Markus’ bike.

Every time destiny did offer him a lemon Markus made lemonade out of it. With his trademark smile, he will always be remembered for his positive spirit.

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