AXELSSON Patrekur

Classification
F11, T11 (IPC, 18 Aug 2021)

Type of Impairment
Vision impairment (Athlete, 20 Aug 2018)

Impairment Details
He became legally blind in 2014 due to Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. "I was 10 years old when I knew this could happen to me, it was when my mother was diagnosed with the same condition. I was told there was a 50% chance that I would get it too, I also knew that I would most likely be diagnosed in my 20s. But I didn't care much about it, I just took care of myself and went on with my life. My vision is so small it is not really measurable, you say 5% to have something. I can see a difference between day and night, shadows and outlines, I distinguish black, white, and blue." (Athlete, 20 Aug 2018; mbl.is, 18 Aug 2018; icelandreview.com, 04 Nov 2016)

Guide
Helgi Bjornsson (ruv.is, 17 Aug 2021; mbl.is, 13 Jul 2019)

General
FAMILY INSPIRATION
His father Axel Emil Gunnlaugsson had a neurodegenerative condition and aspired to compete in Para cross-country skiing at the Paralympic Winter Games before he passed away when Axelsson was age 11. "When I was five years old, my father was diagnosed with a rare disease, and was given six to eight more years to live. He was a great skier and continued unabated, with positivity and optimism as his guiding light. When he had his leg amputated below the knee and began to use a wheelchair, he went cross-country skiing and went to a training camp in Aspen [CO, United States of America], the goal was to get to the Paralympic Winter Games. His attitude towards his illness motivated me when I became ill, and still does. It always helps me a lot to think about him." (mbl.is, 13 Jul 2019; mbl.is, 18 Aug 2018)