WILK Rafal

9 Dec 1974
46
Male
H4
LANCUT
 
Poland
RZESZOW
 
Poland

Events and Medals

Discipline Event Rank Medal
CRD Cycling Road Men's H4 Road Race DNF
Men's H4 Time Trial 4
Mixed H1-5 Team Relay 6

Schedule

Change
Start Time Location Event Status
Fuji International Speedway
Finished
Fuji International Speedway
Finished
Fuji International Speedway
Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

:
RankEventYearLocation
Paralympic Games
1H4 Time Trial2016Rio de Janeiro, BRA
1H3 Road Race2012London, GBR
1H3 Time Trial2012London, GBR
2H4 Road Race2016Rio de Janeiro, BRA
Road World Championships
1H4 Road Race2015Nottwil, SUI
1H4 Time Trial2015Nottwil, SUI
1H4 Time Trial2014Greenville, SC, USA
1H3 Road Race2013Baie-Comeau, QC, CAN
1H3 Time Trial2013Baie-Comeau, QC, CAN
2H4 Road Race2018Maniago, ITA
2H4 Road Race2017Pietermaritzburg, RSA
2H4 Time Trial2017Pietermaritzburg, RSA
3H4 Time Trial2018Maniago, ITA
4H4 Time Trial2019Emmen, NED
4H4 Road Race2014Greenville, SC, USA
5H1-5 Team Relay2021Cascais, POR
5H1-5 Team Relay2015Nottwil, SUI
5H1-5 Team Relay2014Greenville, SC, USA
6H4 Road Race2019Emmen, NED
6H1-5 Team Relay2019Emmen, NED
6H1-5 Team Relay2017Pietermaritzburg, RSA
6H3 Time Trial2011Roskilde, DEN
7H4 Road Race2021Cascais, POR
7H4 Time Trial2021Cascais, POR
7H3 Road Race2011Roskilde, DEN
9H1-5 Team Relay2018Maniago, ITA
:
Rafa (Athlete, 07 Feb 2012)
:
Skiing. (podrozebezgranic.pl, 11 Apr 2014)
:
Athlete, Lecturer
:
Sport Studies - University of Rzeszow, Poland
:
Daughters Gabriela [1996] and Wiktoria [1999], son Hubert [2001]
:
English, Polish
:
Stal Rzeszow [Poland]
:
Jakub Pieniazek [club], POL
:
His daughters Gabriela and Wiktoria have represented Poland in acrobatic gymnastics. His father Jan Wilk was a speedway racer. (wsiz.rzeszow.pl, 29 Jan 2016; Gabriela Wilk Facebook profile, 08 Nov 2015; gloswielkopolski.pl, 16 Sep 2012; eurosport.onet.pl, 21 Oct 2010)
:
He competed in speedway racing at national level before injuring his spinal cord in an accident during a race in 2006. (tvp.pl, 28 Feb 2013)
:
2011 for Poland (Athlete, 07 Feb 2012)
:
He began Para cycling in 2010 at age 36 in Zamosc, Poland. (Athlete, 07 Feb 2012)
:
"Shortly after my accident I did Para skiing, because in the past I was a ski instructor. But at some point I decided to switch to Para cycling. I borrowed a bike from my colleague and I immediately knew that this was it." (wp.pl, 09 Dec 2020; Athlete, 07 Feb 2012)
:
To win two gold medals at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (paralympic.org.pl, 02 Jan 2021)
:
He cycles approximately 17,000 kilometres per year. (paralympic.org.pl, 02 Jan 2021)
:
"No matter how many times you fall, it's important to get up and become stronger." (wp.pl, 09 Dec 2020)
:
In 2017 he received the Officer's Cross of Order of Polonia Restituta from the president of Poland. (prezydent.pl, 03 Dec 2017)

In 2017 he became a Honorary Citizen of Rzeszow in Poland. (wyborcza.pl, 19 Jan 2017)

He was flag bearer for Poland at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (myinfo.rio2016.com, 06 Sep 2016)

In 2013 he was honoured with the Knight's Cross of Order of Polonia Restituta by the president of Poland. (prezydent.pl, 07 Feb 2013)

In 2012 he was named Para Athlete of the Year in Poland. (paralympic.org.pl, 2015)

General Interest

Classification
H4 (uci.org, 29 Mar 2021)

Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries (tvp.pl, 28 Feb 2013)

Origin of Impairment
Acquired (tvp.pl, 28 Feb 2013)

Impairment Details
He has paraplegia as the result of a speedway accident during a race in 2006. (tvp.pl, 28 Feb 2013)

General
FIRST STEPS
In the early part of 2017 he took his first steps following his accident in 2006. "A clinic was testing an exoskeleton and one of my colleagues asked me if I would like to try it. They were looking for someone who had never used one before, to make the tests relevant. So I put it on, I stood up and I walked. It was fantastic. Suddenly the world looks completely different. I stood on my feet and immediately my horizons expanded. It is something beautiful." (przegladsportowy.pl, 15 Apr 2017)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has set up a charitable organisation called 'There is one sport - Rafal Wilk Foundation', which supports Para athletes fighting to achieve their sporting dreams and goals. He was also the subject of a film titled 'Rafal Wilk - A Man of Iron' that presented the story of his life before and after his accident. (sportjestjeden.org, 2016; tvp.pl, 06 Nov 2014)

TWO BIRTHDAYS
He decided to celebrate the date of his accident - 03 May 2006 - as his second birthday. "I celebrate my birthday twice a year. On day of my actual birthday on 09 December, and on every anniversary of my accident. On that day I was re-born. My new life started, so I celebrate two birthdays." (wp.pl, 09 Dec 2020)

Legend
:
Gold Medal Event
:
Silver Medal Event
:
Bronze Medal Event
DNF:
Did not finish
Timing and scoring provided by OMEGA. Results powered by Atos