Toru Suzuki
Don´t forget your original intention
About Toru Suzuki
A member of Team Össur since 2009, Toru Suzuki from Japan is currently ranked as the top amputee High-Jumper in Asia and is the Asian and Japanese record holder.
Today Toru is a respected athlete, handball coach and motivational speaker. The world’s second lower limb amputee to have broken the 2m barrier in his sport, he is well known in Japan and was nominated recently as one of the country’s top 35 champions.
Fast facts
| Nationality | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Amputation | Below the Knee |
| Competitive Class | F44 |
| Main Events | High Jump |
Competitive highlights
| Year | Highlights |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Paralympic Games, London, UK - 4th place for High Jump (1.80) |
| 2011 | IPC Athletics World Championships, New Zealand - 5th place for High Jump (1.80) |
| 2008 | Paralympics, Beijing - 5th place |
Q & A
Who has been the biggest supporter in your career?
"Parents and wife"
Who first got you interested in your sport and who influenced you to take up a competitive sport?
"Brian Fresure（USA：100m）It was started, aim at the Paralympic games."
What has been your best career highlight so far?
"Jumped over 2.00m "
Who has been your toughest opponent and why?
"Jeff Skiba（USA）I have never won him."
What is your ultimate sporting ambition?
"Like jump "
Who in your opinion is the greatest athlete ever? / Do you have an idol for your sport?
"Takahisa Yoshida(before JPN record holder)/Stefan holm(Sweden)"
What are your favorite Össur products and why?
"Re-Flex Shock. In appearance is cool and function is good."
What specific support has Össur provided for you, technical or otherwise?
"Technical and trust for product"
How has Össur contributed to your success?
"I used you product for a long time . No Össur No Success."
Do you have an inspirational quote or motto that you use?
"Challeging spirit"
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
"Don't forget your original intention."
Do you have any pre-event superstitions?
"Nothing"
Who would play you in a film of your life?
"Tom Cruise!?"
What is on your iPod when you are training?
"Backstreet boys"
Tell us something we'd be surprised to know about you?
"I teach a university student Handball "
What is the worst part of your training regime?
"Hit my back against the cross bar"
If you weren't an athlete what would you be doing?
"Handball player, business management"
What do you like doing outside of your sport?
"Reading"
When you have time to see your friends, what do you like to do?
"BBQ "
Biography
An avid handball player in his youth, Toru nurtured dreams of going professional within the sport, but his ambitions were dashed when a serious motor accident resulted in the loss of his right leg below the knee. During a year’s leave of absence from college, while he worked tirelessly through the rehabilitation process, a chance encounter with a Tokyo prosthetist led to the start of a new sporting career.
Within three months Toru had broken a national record in the High Jump event and went on to be selected for the Sydney Paralympic Games as the first amputee High Jumper from Japan. Later he took part in the Athens Games and then Beijing, where he placed in the top six internationally and proudly became the first amputee flag-bearer for his country.
Today Toru is a respected athlete, handball coach and motivational speaker. The world’s second lower limb amputee to have broken the 2m barrier in his sport, he is well known in Japan and was nominated recently as one of the country’s top 35 champions.