This is how I fought my way from blindness to the world elite in para judo.
Cover photo © alexandergrueber.com
The bronze medal at my first Paralympics.
European Champion 2025
At the start of qualifying I won silver at the World Championships.
Grand Prix: gold in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Sport was always my life – until everything changed in 2016: I lost my sight to the rare hereditary disease LHON. I accepted my fate and embraced it as the beginning of a new path.
I was born on 17 January 2000 in Kiel, the youngest sibling of three sisters. We grew up in Rendsburg. There, at just five years old, I stepped onto the judo mat for the first time at RTSV – the beginning of a passion that has shaped me for over 20 years. In 2007 handball was added (until 2016). The North shaped me – Schleswig-Holstein is and remains my home port.
After my Abitur (secondary-school diploma) in 2019 I began studying law at the CAU in Kiel. Later I moved with my sport to the RKU in Heidelberg to manage my dual career. There I specialised in corporate law. After Paris, my goal now is to pass the First State Examination in September 2026.
In 2022 I made my international debut in para judo at the German Open in Heidelberg. Until 2024 I competed in the -73 kg weight class. After qualifying successfully, I won my first medal at my first Paralympics in Paris: bronze!
© Ralf Kuckuck
During a carefree summer holiday in 2016, my life changed abruptly. Due to the rare hereditary disease LHON (Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy) I lost my vision from 100 to 0 percent within a few weeks. Today I can only perceive light; I can no longer “see” in the true sense. The cause is a genetic defect that severely disrupts the energy supply to the optic nerve. My eye itself still works, but the optic nerve is mitochondrially undersupplied and can no longer pass the visual signals on to the brain.
Suddenly my world was turned upside down. I had to give up my passion for handball and “learn to walk again”. While my classmates were preparing for their Abitur after the holidays, I was determined to keep up. I fought my way through every challenge and barrier – above all the barriers in my head that tried to keep me from a “normal life”. What mattered most to me was becoming independent and self-reliant again.
With the help of the state support centre for the visually impaired, I regained my mobility with the white long cane. Suddenly all my devices spoke to me too – today screen readers on my phone and laptop as well as modern AI glasses support me in everyday life. We also set up my new workplace with all the assistive tools. With success: in 2019 we passed the Abitur on schedule, in the same class as everyone else.
With my fighter’s heart I never wanted to give in; instead I live my fate. Early on I sought out others affected by the condition, co-founded a self-help association, served for years on its board and today I am responsible for its youth work. Out of this blow of fate grew the courage to take on responsibility – for myself and for others.
My anchor and driving force in this stormy time was the balance I found in judo. When I returned to the mat and gripped my partner’s gi, everything felt just like before. While many things were no longer possible, I could carry on with judo fully.
In para judo the rules, techniques and scoring are the same as in Olympic judo. The only difference: at the start and after every break in contact, we are brought back into a neutral starting position in contact with our opponent. After that, everything is the same – grip changes are allowed and it comes down purely to body awareness.
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One guiding thought has always shaped me: “Comeback stronger.” This mindset applied to the fresh start in 2016 just as much as to the rocky road into elite sport. Several injuries during the qualification phase for Paris could have held me back. But after every setback I fought my way back even harder.
This fighting spirit paid off: at my first Paralympics in 2024 in Paris I was able to reward myself with the bronze medal. For me it is proof and motivation that you can reach the very top again even after a deep fall. My gaze stays fixed ahead: Los Angeles 2028 is the next goal before my eyes.
Language has always been my passion. Rhetoric is my most important tool – and not only in my law studies. Above all, since losing my sight I have learned to use the power of my words consciously.
In my talks I speak about setbacks, mental strength and the way back. I combine personal experiences from elite sport with clear takeaways for everyday life and work.
I built my confidence on stage through sport and numerous practical appearances. Most recently I was able to develop my skills further in a multi-day professional speaker training.
After my TED Talk in 2025 as well as talks at conferences and companies, I look forward to helping shape your event too.
I’m happy to discuss your specific wishes individually.
Your logo on my daily training kit or on my competition gi.
Reach and joint appearances on social media (Instagram) or right here on my website.
Junior training camps or dedicated para judo and inclusion days can be arranged too.
On your stage I speak about my personal story from 100 to 0 and my comeback to the world elite.
Together we can make a real difference. I look forward to your enquiry – whether for a sponsorship partnership or a speaking engagement.
