Rainer Schmidt of Germany: 7 times Paralympian

Rainer Schmidt of Germany returns a shot during a men's individual class 6 round robin match against Miroslaw Kowalski of Poland at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games table tennis event in Beijing, China, Sept. 9, 2008. Schmidt won the match 3-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals. Schmidt literally has only one normal limb - his left leg. He stands with the support of his artificial right leg, and has his racket tied on his left upper arm. But his disability never stops him from being a great athlete. Since the New York Paralympics in 1984, Schmidt had participated in all the 6 Paralympics, and had won 8 medals in hand - 4 gold and 4 silver. In the last Athens Paralympics, he won a gold in the team event and a silver in his class 6 individual games. (Xinhua Photo)

Rainer Schmidt of Germany serves a shot during a men's individual class 6 round robin match against Miroslaw Kowalski of Poland at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games table tennis event in Beijing, China, Sept. 9, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

Rainer Schmidt of Germany returns a shot during a men's individual class 6 round robin match against Miroslaw Kowalski of Poland at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games table tennis event in Beijing, China, Sept. 9, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

Rainer Schmidt of Germany competes during a men's individual class 6 round robin match against Miroslaw Kowalski of Poland at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games table tennis event in Beijing, China, Sept. 9, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

Rainer Schmidt of Germany poses for photo with referees after a men's individual class 6 round robin match against Miroslaw Kowalski of Poland at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games table tennis event in Beijing, China, Sept. 9, 2008. Schmidt won the match 3-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals. (Xinhua Photo)

Schmidt won the match 3-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals. Schmidt literally has only one normal limb - his left leg. He stands with the support of his artificial right leg, and has his racket tied on his left upper arm. But his disability never stops him from being a great athlete. Since the New York Paralympics in 1984, Schmidt had participated in all the 6 Paralympics, and had won 8 medals in hand - 4 gold and 4 silver. In the last Athens Paralympics, he won a gold in the team event and a silver in his class 6 individual games.