PERSONAL PROFILE
Basic info:
- Name and surname: Jan Tománek
- Date of birth: 6th June 1987
- Height: 187 cm
- Weight: 68 kg
- Handicap: paraplegy
- Education: currently studying university
More info about myself:
- Nickname: Tomy
- Size: XL
- Shoe size: 9
- What I can’t go without: sports – “If I don’t exercise, I don’t live.“
- Hobbies: sports, adrenalin, photography, travel, cinema
- Leisure time: active rest
- Favorite music: anything except for brass
- Favorite dish: Italian cousine
- Favorite drink: juice, black tea with honey
- What delights me: leggy blonds
- What really gets to me: when they have a guy
- Favorite saying: „There are no endorphins without wor.!“
- Motto: „If life’s not at stake, jackshit is.“
Životopis:
I was born on June 30, 1987, in Příbram and since then I have been living with my parents and my older brother in Dobříš. My life can be divided into two parts – the time before the accident and the time after the accident. In October 2002 I was hit by a reckless driverand after recovering from serious injuries remained tied to a wheelchair.
Before the accident I grew up as a normal, athletically gifted boy. I had a special liking for biking, which has accompanied me throughout my life. From a very young age I used to spend a good portion of time in the bike seat and soon I felt motivated to compete as opposed to just riding recreationally. In 2001 I took part in my first MTB race in the student category and since the beginning of 2002 I devoted myself to regular training and participated in various races throughout the year. First I tried the Mountain bike league (Liga horských kol) organized by Česká spořitelna, but later switched to MTB marathons as I was more endurance oriented.
Besides biking I used to practice other sports as well, be it at the recreational or competitive level. I tried taekwondo – a discipline in which I became the Vicechampion of the Czech Republic in 1998. This sport was later replaced by soccer. I started in the club SK Stará Huť, then was a goalie for MFK Dobříš in the regional championships. Skiing, snowboarding and horse riding were other sports I actively participated in, just to name a few.
My life changed fundamentally after the accident. I had to come to terms with what has happened and how it was going to affect my future life. As I was very athletic before the accident, I soon started missing exercising. I eventually managed to cope with my handicap and have fully devoted myself to competitive biking - in a slightly different form, but on the other hand, at a much higher level. Moreover, I don’t avoid other disciplines either and try to be an active, well-rounded athlete. I have come to realize that any handicap is only as big as we percieve it. That is why I strive to do things 100% and try to prove that a physical handicap does not have to be an obstacle to leading an active life.
