Jaco van Gass, age 35, competes in para-cycling due to his disability. Here is everything to know about him.
The athlete sustained an injury due to which he lost his lower left arm.
Despite his disability, he is part of the ParalympicsGB team and has competed in different competitions.
He is currently competing in Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games representing Great Britain.
Cycling: Jaco van Gass Disability
Jaco van Gass competes in para-cycling due to his disability.
As mentioned earlier, he had sustained an injury due to which he lost his lower left arm.
The South African athlete went to Britain to pursue his dream of joining the British Armed Forces. In 2007, he joined the Parachute Regiment after completing training.
During his time in Afghanistan in 2009, he and his team were charged by an enemy. He got caught in a firefight when he sustained severe life-changing injuries after getting hit by a Grenade.
The injuries resulted in a loss of his left arm, damaged lung, wounds to the left side of his body, punctured internal organs, wounds to the upper thigh, and injuries to the other part of his body.
He was put through multiple operations and intense rehabilitation, and in the end, he luckily survived.
But his injury did not hinder him from exploring and achieving great things in life. After recovering, he became a first-class downhill skier.
Moreover, he has competed in multiple marathons, including the New York Marathon and the Safaricom Half Marathon in Kenya.
After that, he became a member of the GB Para-Cycling team. The cyclist has competed at the World Championships in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Jaco van Gass Age
Jaco van Gass is currently of age 35.
He was born on August 20, 1986, in South Africa. But he moved to England at the age of 20 and is currently residing there.
Meet Jaco van Gass Parents
Jaco van Gass’s parent’s detail is unknown.
It is not known whether his parents moved to England or are staying in South Africa.
He is in a relationship with his girlfriend, Kathryn Pringle.
Jaco van Gass Paralympics
Jaco van Gass looks to win his first Paralympics competition.
He is competing in Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Men’s pursuit C3 300m race.
He will be competing in the final on August 26, 2021. As Great Britain looks to add more medals in a different competition, he might help add another one for Great Britain.
Previously, he also competed in Rio De Janeiro with the Great Britain Para-Cycling team and won Bronze in the C4 4K Pursuit.
The Paralympic athlete is inspiring and is a motivational speaker. He visits organizations across the world, inspiring others through his story.