This Paralympic athlete's rise to multisport stardom and friendship with Jurgen Klopp is detailed here.
Following his deal signing, Czyz experienced a significant setback when a collision with a goalkeeper during his last amateur game resulted in a damaged knee. Sadly, medical assistance arrived too late, leading to permanent damage below his knee that necessitated amputation.
Speaking with CNN Sport's Patrick Snell, Czyz shared his emotional journey. "Unfortunately, it was too late for medical aid. So, everything below my knee ceased to function, and they had to amputate," he said.
The athlete's dreams of professional football were shattered, plunging him into despair. "I became suicidal. Despite my ardent desire to become a professional footballer, my destiny, my passion – I now had but one passion: to end my life," he confessed.
After a nurse intervened and prevented his suicide attempt, Czyz began to see a glimmer of hope. He channeled his passion into a new direction, stating, "I could once again pour all my passion into the right endeavor, and in doing so, I emerged from this dark period."
Just six months post-amputation, Czyz astonished everyone by claiming the German title in the T42 100m and F42/44 long jump. He went on to represent his country at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Paralympics, winning seven medals, including four gold, in para-athletics as a sprinter and long jumper.
An unexpected friendship and extraordinary athletic journey
Czyz attributes his Paralympic career to a friend's prompting. "He asked me, 'Why do you want to be a soccer player in the first place?' I replied, 'To enter a stadium filled with 80,000 cheering fans, shouting my name after I score a goal.' It was this very feeling that drove me," he explained.
His friend presented him with a documentary on the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics, packed with a roaring crowd and people cheering. Intrigued, Czyz expressed, "Wow, I want to be there." This was the door that opened new opportunities for him.
An unexpected friendship with former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who was head coach of German soccer team Mainz 05 at the time, further propelled Czyz towards his new dream of becoming a para-athlete.
"He heard about my story and decided to support me, ensuring I'd receive a top-notch prosthetic for the future," Czyz recounted.
After participating in three consecutive Paralympics, Czyz temporarily retired for five years, dedicating time to providing prosthetic limbs to 90 individuals in need. In New Zealand, he rekindled his love for badminton, ultimately representing the Kiwis in this year's Paralympics.
"Imagine, I picked up a racket just 2.5 years ago and had no idea how to use it," he shared.
During this year's Paralympics, Klopp, who had stepped down as Liverpool coach, attended from the sidelines, supporting his friend. Despite losing to Great Britain's Daniel Bethell, the pair maintained their joyous spirit.
"He supports my endeavor to open doors for others, which is why he came," said Czyz.
Klopp himself added: "It was wonderful to watch him, and standing next to his incredible wife, Elena, we both had tears in our eyes because I understand that sports are about the result and winning, but there's so much more to this story," as shared by Olympics.com.
Despite the amputation, Czyz's love for sports didn't wane. He found a new outlet in para-athletics, competing in the T42 100m and F42/44 long jump post-amputation.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who was head coach of German soccer team Mainz 05 at the time, showed his support by providing Czyz with a top-notch prosthetic for his future athletic pursuits.
