FLAX Thomas

Wheelchair Tennis

Date of Birth: 11 Sep 1983

Age: 37

Gender: Male

Sport Class: WT

Place of birth: DORNBIRN

Birth Country:

Austria

Place of residence : DORNBIRN

Residence Country:

Austria

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Wheelchair Tennis	Men's Singles	33
	Men's Doubles AUT Flax / Langmann	9

Schedule

Start Time	Location	Event	Status
4th on Centre Court	Ariake Tennis Park Centre Court	Men's Doubles Second Round GBR Hewett / Reid 6 6 AUT Flax / Langmann 0 0	Finished
3rd on Court 4	Ariake Tennis Park Court 4	Men's Doubles First Round ESP Siscar Meseguer / Tur 6 4 5 AUT Flax / Langmann 3 6 7	Finished
2nd on Court 5	Ariake Tennis Park Court 5	Men's Singles First Round AUT FLAX TFLAX Thomas Sport Class: WT 2 0 RSA MARIPA EMARIPA Evans Sport Class: WT 6 6	Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

Olge (Athlete, 21 Aug 2021)

Handcycling, cooking. (Athlete, 21 Aug 2021)

Occupation:

Journalism - University of Salzburg, Austria

Languages spoken:

English, German

Rollstuhlclub ENJO Vorarlberg

Max Bodensteiner; Martin Sendlhofer

Left (itftennis.com, 01 Jan 2021)

He injured his elbow at the 2019 Chicago Classic in the United States of America and needed a two-month recovery period. (rollstuhlclub.at, 11 Jul 2021)

He took up the sport at age six at UTC Dornbirn in Austria. (Athlete, 21 Aug 2021)

He played tennis as a hobby when he was growing up and took up wheelchair tennis after his mountain bike accident in 2007. He was also inspired watching Austrian tennis player Thomas Muster on TV. "Thanks to this sport I found my way back on the right track [after his accident]. Wheelchair tennis developed from a pure hobby to a real competitive sport. The vision of being part of the Paralympic Games has been with me since I was in a wheelchair." (olympiazentrum-vorarlberg.at, 01 Jan 2019; vol.at, 26 Nov 2018; Athlete, 21 Aug 2021)

Securing his place to compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games. (Athlete, 21 Aug 2021)

Austrian wheelchair tennis player Thomas Mossier. (Athlete, 21 Aug 2021)

General Interest

Classification
Open (ITF, 05 Feb 2020)

Origin of Impairment
Acquired (olympiazentrum-vorarlberg.at, 01 Jan 2019)

Impairment Details
He has paraplegia as a result of a mountain bike accident in 2007. (rollstuhlclub.at, 11 Jul 2021; olympiazentrum-vorarlberg.at, 01 Jan 2019; wannundwo.at, 15 Dec 2018)

General
RETIREMENT PLAN
He intends to retire from professional wheelchair tennis in 2021. "With my impairment, wheelchair tennis is tough, it has been hard for me to maintain this level for several years. I go all-in for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. After the summer of 2021, I will take a step back and no longer play professionally. Work and family planning will then take priority." (oepc.at, 26 Nov 2020)

STUDIES
In 2020 he decided to begin studying sports journalism at the University of Salzburg in Austria. "The Paralympic Games in Tokyo were postponed to 2021, and I suddenly had a lot of time. In addition to training, I have to do something for my head and my future. Then an Austrian Paralympic Committee [OPC] newsletter came into my mailbox and it was about the course in Salzburg. I could identify with it immediately. The idea that sports-loving people get together and see what tools are needed for good journalism excited me. I've been working in the media sector in Vorarlberg for years. So I can certainly take a lot with me." (oepc.at, 26 Nov 2020)

Social Media

https://www.facebook.com/thomas.flax.7

Legend

:: Gold Medal Event
:: Silver Medal Event
:: Bronze Medal Event

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