Rudolf Hajek

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Rudolf Hajek (born August 18, 1963 in Laa an der Thaya ) is an Austrian wheelchair table tennis athlete .

Athletic career

Hajek started his international career in 1985. In 1988 he won gold for the first time in the individual competition at the Paralympics in Seoul . Four years later at the Summer Paralympics in Barcelona he was able to defend his title and thus placed himself on the top tier of the most successful table tennis wheelchair athletes. For this he also received the award "Disabled Sportsman of the Year 1992" from ORF.

Numerous national champions, European champions and World championship titles followed.

Furthermore, for over 20 years Rudolf Hajek was the only wheelchair athlete who was accepted into the “ Street of the Winners ” and had his permanent place on Mariahilfer Strasse in Vienna.

As a result of his commitment, a table tennis section was founded in the Weisser Hof rehabilitation center, which he also headed for a few years and then handed over. His home club for the non-disabled was the UTTC Wultendorf , where he also took part in the championship. In the NÖTTV (Lower Austrian Table Tennis Association) a sports advisor for the disabled was introduced on the basis of his initiative, and he initially took on the voluntary work himself.

In 2005 Hajek ended his sporting career with a 1st place in the team competition at the US Open in Las Vegas.

Successes (excerpt)

  • 1985 bronze medal in doubles at the European Championships in Delden (Holland)
  • 1986 bronze medal in doubles at the World Championships in Brisbane (Australia)
  • 1987 silver medal in singles and bronze medal in doubles at the European Championships in Stoke (England)
  • 1988 gold medal in singles and bronze medal in doubles at the Summer Paralympics in Seoul (South Korea)
  • 1989 silver medal in doubles and bronze medal in singles at the European Championships in Vienna
  • 1990 gold medal in doubles and bronze medal in singles at the World Championships in Assen (Netherlands)
  • 1991 gold medal in doubles and singles at the European Championships in Salou (Spain)
  • 1992 gold medal in doubles and singles at the Summer Paralympics in Barcelona (Spain)
  • 1995 silver medal in doubles and bronze medal in singles at the European Championships in Hillerod (Denmark)
  • 1996 Silver medal in doubles at the Summer Paralympics in Atlanta (USA)
  • 1999 silver medal in doubles at the European Championships in Piestany (Slovakia)
  • 2001 silver medal in doubles at the European Championships in Frankfurt
  • 2002 silver medal in doubles at the World Championships in Taipei (Taiwan)

Awards

For his sporting achievements, he received the Silver Medal of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria and the Gold Medal of Honor for Services to the State of Lower Austria .

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Hajek, Rudolf
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian wheelchair table tennis athlete
DATE OF BIRTH August 18, 1963
PLACE OF BIRTH Laa an der Thaya