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Give always the best in every situation!
Urs Kolly
Although a Paralympic athlete, Urs Kolly is no stranger to able-bodied competition. In fact he is a strong advocate for mixed ability training and competition. Kolly believes it is important to have a healthy and honest environment and not to be "immersed in the handicapped sector only".
His grand total of Paralympic gold medals currently stands at 7.
Who has been the biggest supporter in your career?
"My big family, specially my wife and my children. "
Who first got you interested in your sport and who influenced you to take up a competitive sport?
"My family, I practice athletics since I am 10 years old and I continued after the amputation. 3 years after amputation, I participated at the Paralympics Games in Barcelona."
What has been your best career highlight so far?
"The long jump and Pentathlon competition at the Paralympics Games in Athens 2004 was I big highlight. The atmosphere in Athens 2004 was very specially because my family was complete dear."
Who has been your toughest opponent and why?
"The athletes from the US in long jump and Pentathlon"
What is your ultimate sporting ambition?
"To show the best that I can, and a little bit more (smiley face)"
Who in your opinion is the greatest athlete ever? / Do you have an idol for your sport?
"Roger Federer, Michael Schumacher. Myself, I think I performed extremely well at the Paralympic Games in Athens 2004 winning two gold medals and doing a new World Record in Pentathlon."
What are your favorite Össur products and why?
"The Cheetah combined with Iceross Sport liner for my sports activities, for shot put and discus I use the Vari-Flex. For my daily activities I use the Flex-Foot Assure with the Iceross Dermo Liner with Waves"
What specific support has Össur provided for you, technical or otherwise? How has Össur contributed to your success?
"They supported me with sport prostheses, Össur allowed me to test several prostheses and feet and I could find the good solution for my various sports activities"
Do you have an inspirational quote or motto that you use?
"Give always the best in every situation."
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
"Show respect"
Do you have any pre-event superstitions?
"No."
Who would play you in a film of your life?
"Superman"
What is on your iPod when you are training?
"No specially music, just all round music with a good beat."
Tell us something we'd be surprised to know about you?
"I like to sing or to whistle when I am working or in the training."
What is the worst part of your training regime?
"When I can not train because of problems with my lack. "
If you weren't an athlete what would you be doing?
"Cheese maker"
What do you like doing outside of your sport?
"Work and to be with my family and friends. "
When you have time to see your friends, what do you like to do?
"To take and to have good moments. "
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Swiss |
| DOB | July 24, 1968 |
| Amputation | Below the Knee |
| Competitive Class | T44 / F44 / P44 |
| Main Events | 100m, 200m, High Jump, Long Jump, 100m, 400m, Shot Put, Javelin |
| Competetive Highlights | (See below) |
| Products | Flex-Foot Cheetah®, Vari-Flex®, Iceross Comfort® |
Urs Kolly is now working as an engineer in the cheese industry in Switzerland and runs his own cheese factory “Olympica”.
Kolly lost his leg in a motorbike accident in 1989 while in military service.
He was frustrated and depressed with his first prostheses and threw it in a corner, and it was easier to hop and use crutches to get around.
But Kolly persevered. A keen athletic sportsman since he was 10 years old , he started training again soon after leaving hospital and worked hard on perfecting his gait. Working out at the gym also helped to rebuild him physically and psychologically before his return to field sports.
Three years after amputation, Urs Kolly participated at the Paralympics in Barcelona in 1992 and won his first gold medal in the discus.
At the Paralympics Games in 1996 (Atlanta), 2000 (Sydney) and 2004 (Athens), he won gold medals in both long jump and Pentathlon events. At the Paralympic Games in 2008 in Beijing he won the bronze medal in Pentathlon.
His grand total of Paralympic gold medals currently stands at seven.
Urs Kolly was also the Pentathlon World Champion in 1998, 1999 and 2002, as well as Discus World champion in 1998 and 1999. He is the proud recipient of three World championship gold medals, three silver and two bronze.
Urs Kolly uses the Flex-Foot Cheetah and the Vari-Flex with Evo and the Iceross Sport liner for the competitions. His daily prosthesis incorporates an Iceross Comfort liner with a Flex-Foot Assure.
| Year | Highlight |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Paralympics, Beijing - Bronze medal- Pentathlon (1:00.29) |
| 2007 |
IWAS World Games Taipei, Taiwan |
| 2006 | IPC World Championships Assen, The Netherlands Bronze medal in Pentathlon (4153points) 4th rank in Javelin (44.90m) 4th in Discus (42.98m) 6th in Long Jump (5.89m) 9th rank in Shot Put (12.54m) |
| 2005 |
European Championships Espoo, Finnland (injured) |
| 2004 |
Paralympics Athens Greece Gold medal with new world record in Pentathlon 4 447 points 2004 Athlete with a handicap of the year 2004 |
| 2003 | European Championships, Assen, the Netherlands
European Champion with new world record in pentathlon (100m, Long Jump, Shot Put, Discus, 400m - 4371points) German championships, Wattenscheid, Germany Gold medal in 100m Sprint |
| 2002 |
IPC World championships, Lille, France Gold medal with new world record in Pentathlon
|
| 2001 |
European Champion in Long Jump, Assen, The Netherlands Gold medal in Pentathlon |
| 2000 |
Paralympic Games, Sydney, Australia Gold medal in Long Jump (6.19m) |
| 1999 |
World championships, Barcelona, Spain World Champion with new Pentathlon world record |
| 1998 |
World championships, Birmingham, UK World Champion in Discus |
| 1996 |
1996 Paralympic Games, Atlanta, USA Gold medal in Long Jump (5.80m) |
| 1994 |
World championships, Berlin, Germany Silver medal in Discus |
| 1992 |
1992 Paralympic Games, Barcelona, Spain |