Florian Planker

Florian Planker entered his fifth Paralympics in Sochi in 2014 as no stranger to adversity.

Italy’s veteran forward overcame a motorcycle accident at age 17 that resulted in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. But that didn’t stop him from becoming involved in elite sport.

He represented Italy in Para alpine skiing at three editions of the Paralympic Winter Games from 1998-2006, with his best result, a bronze medal, coming in the super-G competition at the Salt Lake City 2002 Games.

Planker, who holds an accounting degree, switched over to Para ice hockey when his team qualified for the Paralympics for the first time in 2006, as Torino hosted the Games.

With five years of experience in standing hockey prior to his accident, Planker had already mastered how to read the game on the ice, knowing exactly when to pass or shoot the puck.

He has been the team’s anchor and go-to scorer ever since, leading them to a European title in 2011 and sixth-place finishes at the last two World Championships. He was also on hand when Italy clinched their best ever finish at a Worlds in 2015 with fifth.

Planker was the leading scorer for Italy at both of those World Championships and he led all players at the 2013 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Qualification Tournament with eight goals – four of them game-winners – and five assists. Italy won silver there to qualify for Sochi 2014.

Planker, who often indulges in pasta to load up on carbohydrates before big games, talks a lot about how his family. His wife and daughter keep him motivated, and he said he admires his father more than anybody in the world because of the example he’s set in his life.