Vanessa Low wins inaugural ‘Keep Fighting Award’

Germany’s Rio 2016 athletics champion was chosen because she “conveys the values that this prize wants to promote: to never give up and to positively shape the future.” 08 Feb 2017
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Vanessa Low GER competes in the Women's Long Jump - T42 Final at the Olympic Stadium.
Vanessa Low GER competes in the Women's Long Jump - T42 Final at the Olympic Stadium.
ⒸOlympic Information Services OIS.
By IPC

“I was very surprised at first learning I was the winner."

German track and field athlete Vanessa Low won the inaugural ‘Keep Fighting Award,’ an initiative that celebrates the attitudes to ‘keep fighting’ and ‘never give up,’ inspired by Germany’s seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher.

The Rio 2016 Paralympic gold medallist was chosen because her “impressive figure embodies and conveys the values that this prize wants to promote: to never give up and, despite setbacks, to positively shape the future," as stated by Sabine Kehm, on behalf of the Schumacher family.

Low was born in Ratzeburg, Germany, and lost both her legs in an accident at 15-years-old. At last year’s Paralympic Games, she set a world record of 4.93m on her way to gold in the women’s long jump T42 and followed that up with silver in the 100m T42.

"I admire the Schumacher family for their courageous step. I am completely behind the values that this award represents and I am very happy to help spread them,” said Low, who was chosen ‘German Disabled Sportswoman of the Year’ in 2016.

“I was very surprised at first learning I was the winner. I am very proud I have been selected and I would like to thank them for it."

She was given the award by Jean Todt, President of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), and reigning Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg.

The winner also received a prize of EUR 75,000, including EUR 25,000 in the form of a scholarship at the renowned "SPOAC - Sports Business Academy by WHU."

More information is available on SPOAC’s website.