Sports Minister Eduard Novak announced on Facebook on Sunday that he has decided to start preparations for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, which will be his sixth Olympic Games. In December 2021, he announced the end of his sports career, stressing, however, that he did not know whether it would be “temporary or forever”.

“Sports teach us that we must always strive to achieve our ideals and not shy away from goals that are too big, too bold, no matter what the obstacles are. And my New Year’s resolution includes this goal: to start preparing for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.

The 6th Olympiad, in which I propose to take part, and the 2nd during the minister’s term of office.

I made the decision to participate in #Paris2024 because the proximity to sports and high results, the mentality of a champion, the idea of ​​overcoming new barriers have always helped me to be a better version. I still fondly remember the first Olympic medal in 2008, followed by the gold in London four years later. It’s more than medals, it’s an experience that has shaped me as a person and has shown me that it’s not just the destination (the end result) that matters, but the process, the whole journey. Now I want to go on this trip again. We’ll see where it leads, but no matter what awaits me at the finish line, I’ll know that I had great people, family support and a lot of positive energy by my side,” Novak wrote on Facebook.

The former president of the Romanian Cycling Federation, Eduard Novak, has been a minister since December 2020.

He was born on July 28, 1976 in the city of Merkurya-Chuk.

In 1996, Eduard Novak, who was engaged in ice skating, was involved in a car accident, as a result of which his right leg was amputated.

Eduard Novak is the only Paralympic champion in the history of Romania. At the Paralympic Games in London since 2012, he won a gold medal in the pursuit race in athletics and a silver medal in the road time trial. In 2008 in Beijing, he won a silver medal in the road time trial.

In Tokyo 2021, where he registered his fifth participation in the Paralympic Games, Eduard Novak won a silver medal in the 4000 m individual pursuit race. He also competed in the 1000 m time trial (11th place), road race ( 8 ) and road cycling, a test he failed.

(source: news.ro)