Jump to content

Ryszard Tomaszewski

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ryszard Tomaszewski
Personal information
Born (1951-08-20) 20 August 1951 (age 73)
Stawiszyn, Poland
Sport
Country Poland
SportParalympic powerlifting
Paralympic athletics
DisabilitySpinal cord injury
Medal record
Representing  Poland
Paralympic Games
Paralympic powerlifting
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul Men's -85kg
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona Men's -90kg
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta Men's -90kg
Silver medal – second place 1980 Arnhem Men's -85kg
Paralympic athletics
Silver medal – second place 1984 Stoke Mandeville/New York Discus throw 2
Bronze medal – third place 1984 Stoke Mandeville/New York Shot put 2

Ryszard Tomaszewski (born 20 August 1951) is a retired Polish Paralympic powerlifter, discus thrower and shot putter. He was a triple Paralympic champion in powerlifting and a two-time medalist in athletics.[1]

Life changing accident

[edit]

In 1971, he was involved in an accident at work in Żelazno where he and a team of other geologists went to research the construction of a bridge near the town. A 800kg chisel from a drilling tower fell onto him and a drill technician, the mechanical instrument hit the technician on the head and hit Tomaszewski's back. The pier that they both stood on collapsed and they fell into the water. They were both rescued from the water but they were both unconscious, the technician had lost a lot of blood from the accident but Tomaszewski had a suspected broken vertebra. The two casualties were thrown into the back of a car and were taken to hospital in Kłodzko, halfway through the journey, the technician was taken by ambulance and went to the nearest hospital while Tomaszewski was still in the car, he described the road as very bumpy and the car was travelling very fast. Once he reached to the nearest hospital, the doctor who examined him confirmed that he had suffered a spinal cord injury.[2]

Tomaszewski was in an induced coma in a hospital in Wrocław to receive treatment and received rehabilitation in Konstancin.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ryszard Tomaszewski - IPC Profile". International Paralympic Committee. 12 April 2021.
  2. ^ "The story of an outstanding Wroclaw disabled athlete Ryszard Tomaszewski (in Polish)". Wyborcza.pl. 25 January 2001.
  3. ^ "Ryszard Tomaszewski - Powerlifting (in Polish)". Pracowniafizjoteka. 12 April 2021.