ROEGER Michael

Classification
T46 (IPC, 05 Mar 2021)

Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency (Athlete, 24 Oct 2015)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (Athlete, 24 Oct 2015)

Impairment Details
He was born without the lower part of his right arm. (Athlete, 24 Oct 2015)

General
RELATIONSHIP WITH COACH
He began working with coach Philo Saunders in 2012. "Philo is a genius. He knows exactly what I need to reach my full potential, and I back him 110%. It's a truly unique relationship that Philo has with his athletes and one I know we are all truly appreciate and grateful of." (runnerstribe.com, 22 Jan 2020)

EARLY DAYS
He grew up in Langhorne Creek, SA, Australia, and discovered his passion for running when his school teachers would get students to do laps of the local vineyards. "Langhorne Creek is famous for some of the best wine in the country. So much great shiraz has come out of Langhorne Creek, but it's a small town and I think my school had about 80 kids from kindergarten to year six. Our three or four teachers used to get us to run around the vineyards, a two-kilometre loop. That was a cool way to start that people in the city don't really get. I was always at the pointy end of the field in those runs." (athletesvoice.com.au, 01 Jan 2019)

EARLY WORRIES
He was insecure about what others would think of him and his running performances when he started his running career. He has since worked with sport psychologists and no longer experiences the same anxiety as he did as a younger athlete. "The pressure and nerves of racing and competing were hard to deal with at first. I've learnt now, with sport psychologists and people in my team, that it doesn't matter what Australia or the world thinks of me, whether I run a world record or whether I run last. It just matters what the people in my corner, my coach, my close team and my family and friends think." (athletesvoice.com.au, 01 Jan 2019)

HEALTH SCARE
During the 2012 Paralympic Games in London he suffered from a gastrointestinal bleed, mainly caused by anti-inflammatory medication. He was forced to withdraw from the T46 800m heats and had to spend time in hospital. "The night before the race I was bleeding internally. It was the hardest thing I've been through. I was spewing up what looked like coffee grinds, but was actually dried blood, just before I had to go to the cool room to race. I sat in the cool room and I couldn't stand up because my head was killing me, and I was seeing these Kenyans and Ethiopians just doing strides and run-throughs. I thought, 'Geez how am I going to get out there and run?' I got through half a lap, basically dropped to the ground and told them to put me on a drip. I was in hospital in London for four days, had to have a blood transfusion, then flew back to Australia to get some more treatment." (athletesvoice.com.au, 01 Jan 2019)