Markus Rehm

Markus Rehm (born 22 August 1988) is a German amputee and Paralympian. He began in sports at age 20 and became a long jump F44 world champion in 2011. His club is TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen and he is a medical specialist.[1] Rehm is nicknamed "The Blade Jumper", as he is a long jumper with a blade-type leg prosthesis.[2] Rehm's right leg is amputated and he uses a carbon-fibre bladed prosthesis, from which he jumps off.[3]

Markus Rehm

Rehm at the 2016 Paralympics
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Blade Jumper
Born	(1988-08-22) 22 August 1988 Göppingen, West Germany
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Website	www.markus-rehm-88.de
Sport
Country	Germany
Sport	Athletics
Disability class	F44/T44
Event(s)	Long jump, sprint
Club	Bayer Leverkusen
Achievements and titles
Paralympic finals	London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016
Medal record Representing  Germany Paralympic Games 2012 London Long jump F44 2012 London 4×100 m T42-46 2016 Rio Long jump T44 2016 Rio 4×100 m T42-47 IPC World Championships 2011 Christchurch Long jump F44 2013 Lyon Long jump F44 2015 Doha Long jump F44 2015 Doha 4×100 m T42-47 IPC European Championships 2012 Stadskanaal 100 m T44 2012 Stadskanaal Long jump F42/44 2014 Swansea Long jump F42/44 2016 Grosseto Long jump T44 2016 Grosseto 4×100 m T42-47 2014 Swansea 100 m T44
Updated on 18 September 2016.

He holds the long jump world record in his category (8.48 m) set at the 2015 Berlin 2018 World Para Athletics European Championships.

Personal life

In 2005, at age 14, after a wakeboarding accident, Rehm had his right leg amputated below the knee.[3]

Athletics career

Rehm in 2014, jumping, with his blade in profile

2012 Summer Paralympics

Rehm won a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in the long jump F42/44 classification. He made (7.35 m/1,093 points) and set a new world record.[4][5] On winning he stated "I think it was the perfect jump today."[6]

2014 German championships

Rehm won the 2014 German Athletics Championships in long jump, with a jump of 8.24 m (27.0 ft).[7] However many able-bodied longjumpers protested that he had an unfair advantage due to his blade. His national title was upheld.[8][9]

2014 European Athletics Championships

Rehm was banned from the 2014 European Athletics Championships, as it was ruled that his blade gave him an unfair advantage over able-bodied athletes. His blade made his amputee right leg 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) longer than his natural leg. Rehm jumps off with his right leg.[10][3]

2015 German championships

Rehm again placed first in the long jump at the 2015 German Athletics Championships. However, his results still do not count towards winning the championship, as the German Federation has ruled that the prosthetics cannot be ruled out as providing an unfair advantage. He finished on top with a jump of 8.11 m (26.6 ft).[8]

2015 IPC Athletics World Championships

At the 2015 Doha World Championship, Rehm set a world IPC disability record in the long jump, at 8.40 m (27.6 ft).[9] That distance of 8.40m was enough to win the gold medal at the prior 3 Summer Olympics (2012 London, 2008 Beijing, 2004 Athens).[3]

2016 Rio Summer Olympics

Rehm attempted to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics, to become the second bladed athlete to compete at the Olympics, following Oscar Pistorius at the 2012 Summer Olympics. A rules change[NB 1] at the IAAF meant that he needed to qualify his prosthesis with the IAAF to prove that it did not provide an advantage over able-bodied athletes.[2] A study by the University of Cologne determined that the prosthetic was a disadvantage in the run-up portion of the long jump but advantageous during the jump, however there was no overall advantage.[11] However, the IAAF ruled that Germany failed to prove its case, and denied Rehm permission to participate at the Rio Olympics.[9]

2016 Rio Summer Paralympics

Rehm competed in the long jump T43/T44 and 4 × 100 m relay T42-47 and won both events, jumping 8.21 m in the final.[12] He served as the flag bearer for Germany at the 2016 Summer Paralympics Parade of Nations.

2017 World Athletics Championships

Rehm will again attempt to qualify for an IAAF-sanctioned able-bodied competition, the London 2017 World Championships in Athletics. Following the 2016 Paralympics, he will re-try to persuade the IAAF that his prosthetic does not give him an unfair advantage.[NB 1][3]

Results

Non-disabled sports events

Time (s) / Distance (s)	Results / Placements	Date	Event	Competition	Remarks
8.24 m (27.0 ft)	Gold	26 July 2014	Long jump	2014 German Athletics Championships
DSQ	DNS	N/A	Long jump	2014 European Athletics Championships	Rehm qualified to compete, but was later disqualified and did not compete, after his blade was ruled in contravention
8.11 m (26.6 ft)	Top finisher	24 July 2015	Long jump	2015 German Athletics Championships	Rehm competed but was not ranked; he finished with the longest jump. All competitors using prosthetics were deemed to be out of order and did not rank in the placements.
8.10 m (26.6 ft)	Gold	February 2016	Long jump	2016 Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix	[13][14]

Footnotes

1. Competition Rule 144.3(d) bans 'the use of any mechanical aid, unless the athlete can establish on the balance of probabilities that the use of such an aid would not provide him with an overall competitive advantage over an athlete not using such aid.'

References

1. Markus Rehm. Ipc.infostradasports.com. Retrieved on 18 September 2016.
2. Karolos Grohmann (6 April 2016). "Olympics-"Blade Jumper" Rehm running out of time for Rio". Reuters.
3. Gareth A Davies (16 September 2016). "Markus Rehm puts Olympic disappointment to one side and hopes retaining title will boost London bid". The Telegraph (London).
4. Barber, Glen. (31 August 2012) Photos: Best of the 2012 London Paralympics, August 31, 2012. Denver Post, Retrieved on 2016-09-18.
5. (in German) Weitspringer Rehm holt Gold mit Weltrekord. Spiegel online (31 August 2012)
6. German Embassy to the United Kingdom, http://www.london.diplo.de/Vertretung/london/en/__pr/OlympicsParalympics/09/GoldenWeekend.html ; London.diplo.de ;
7. DPA (29 July 2014). "Unfair advantage for one-legged long jumper?". The Local (Germany).
8. "Amputee 'Blade Jumper' denied official title after national win". Associated Press. CTV News. 25 July 2015.
9. Mark Trevelyan (17 June 2016). "Blade jumper Rehm sees Rio dreams fade". Reuters. WIXX 101.
10. "Authorities question whether prosthetic gives long-jumper Rehm advantage". Deutsche Welle. 27 July 2014.
11. Karolos Grohmann (30 May 2016). "'Blade Jumper' Rehm says study shows no advantage". Reuters. SBS.
12. Rio 2016; Markus Rehm Archived 23 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Paralympics Biography
13. "Results: 2016 Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix Results". LetsRun.com. 20 February 2016.
14. Associated Press (20 February 2016). "'Blade Jumper' Rehm wins long jump at Glasgow GP".

External links

• Official website (in German)
• Markus Rehm at the International Paralympic Committee (also here)