(L-R) Michel Knepper, COSL President; Georges Mischo, Luxembourg’s Minister of Sport; Christelle Diederich, President of sportpress.lu; Tom Habscheid, Paralympics bronze medallist; Jeffrey Dentzer, CEO of BIL;
Credit: Ievgenii Karanov, Chronicle.lu
On Thursday 3 April 2025, the Committee of the Luxembourg Sports Press Association (sportspress.lu), together with the management of the Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL), held an official reception in honour of Tom Habscheid, who was named "Best Sportsman 2024".
Luxembourg’s Minister of Sport, Georges Mischo, also attended the event and acknowledged the achievements of Tom Habscheid, who secured a medal in the men’s shot put at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
This marked the first time that a representative of the Luxembourg Paralympic Committee received the “Best Sportsman” award, as voted by members of the Luxembourg Sports Press Association.
Chronicle.lu also took the opportunity to speak with 38-year-old Tom Habscheid following the award presentation.
Chronicle.lu: What does it mean to you to receive this award as the first Paralympian in Luxembourg’s history to be recognised in this way?
Tom Habscheid: It's an awesome feeling to be the first Paralympic athlete to receive this award. I think it's a very big step - for me personally, and for the sports press to honour an athlete with a disability in this way. It's truly amazing.
Chronicle.lu: Was this recognition something you expected, or did it come as a surprise?
Tom Habscheid: It was 50/50 because all the athletes were top-level sportspeople. It was a special evening and I was quite nervous. Yeah, it really was 50/50.
Chronicle.lu: Looking back at your medal performance at the Paralympic Games in Paris, did you feel at the time that you were ready to be on the podium?
Tom Habscheid: Things like that - you can see it in training one or two days before. But when you go out into the stadium for the competition, you can see what the others at least can do. And you know when you have a good day or a bad day. And that day was a good day, and I knew, okay, if I give 100% now, I can do something.
Chronicle.lu: Would you say your success was more a result of mental preparation or physical conditioning?
Tom Habscheid: It was 80% mentality and 20% sport. It's super wild.
Chronicle.lu: What’s next for you - how do you see your future? Do you plan to stay involved in the sport, perhaps in a coaching role?
Tom Habscheid: No, no coaching. More some small things in role modelling, volunteerism, something like that.
Chronicle.lu: What does your medal represent for the Luxembourg Paralympic movement?
Tom Habscheid: It was a very big step. It was one step, but a big step. I hope a lot of other athletes can be supported, but we need more people with disabilities who want to do something, who want to come out. That’s an important part.
IK
