The Paralympic summer games in Tokyo have ended with a big closing ceremony. And there were reasons for everyone to celebrate – above all the athletes from TSB Bayer 04 Leverkusen: the Paralympians from the Rhineland picked up eight medals and helped Germany to finish twelfth in the international medal table (13 golds, 12 silver, 18 bronze).
Taliso Engel set a new world record (1:03.52 minutes) in a previous round of the 100 metre breaststroke race. He was unable to match that in the final (1:02.97) as he won gold for Germany.
There was similar success for Johannes Floors: The Paralympic sprinter impressively lived up to his role as the favourite in the 400 metres race as he finished first. Floors run the race in 45.85 seconds. It was his first individual gold. (I could cry. I've worked for five years to be at the front and run it down," said the 26-year-old after his triumph. Floors also picked up a Paralympic bronze in the second discipline, the 100 metres race.
Markus Rehm Also comes home with a gold medal. The 33-year-old won his third long jump gold medal in succession in Tokyo. Rehm triumphed in the rain with a jump of 8.18 metres, 79 centimetres ahead of the Frenchman Dmitri Pavarde.
Léon Schäfer (long jump/100 metres) and Irmgard Bensusan (100/200 metres) just missed out on gold. in the competition of above-knee amputee long jumpers, Schaefer won the silver medal and he finished in third place in the 100 metre sprint. Bensusan finished second behind Marlene van Gansewinkel over 100 metres as well as over the double distance.
Germany's sitting volleyball team, with the Leverkusen athletes Dominik Albrecht, Stefan Hähnlein, Lukas Schiwiy, Jürgen Schrapp and Mathis Tigler starting, achieved sixth place – the Germany team lost out to Egypt's after a total of five sets (23:25, 26:24, 18:25, 25:22 and 8:15).
An overview of the TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen athletes at the Paralympics: Taliso Engel (swimming), Nele Moos (100 metres/400 metres), Léon Schäfer (long jump/100 metres), Johannes Floors (100 metres/400 metres), Markus Rehm (long jump), Irmgard Bensusan (100 metres/200 metres), Maria Tietze (100 metres/200 metres), David Behre (relay), Lise Petersen (javelin), Dominik Albrecht (sitting volleyball), Stefan Hähnlein (sitting volleyball), Lukas Schiwiy (sitting volleyball), Jürgen Schrapp (sitting volleyball), Mathis Tigler (sitting volleyball).
Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Guéla Doué for the time being. The Ivory Coast international sustained a muscle injury to his right calf during the final Werkself training session yesterday ahead of the Europa League clash with Slovenian champions NK Celje.
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For the first time since reaching the final against AS Roma (2–2, first leg 2–0) in May 2024, Bayer 04 are playing another home match in the UEFA Europa League – and they will be wearing their new European kit. On Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the BayArena will welcome Slovenian champions NK Celje, who appointed a new coach this week following a mixed start to the season. Under the slogan “40 Years Across Europe. Still Creating History.”, the Black and Reds now aim to add the next chapter to their European history, which has seen so much success in recent years. Bayer 04 fans can follow the match on free-to-air TV on RTL, as well as on Sky and Werkself Radio. The matchday news.
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European football returns to the BayArena: Bayer 04 host Slovenian champions NK Celje on matchday 1 in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. Ahead of the match on Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez and midfielder Aleix Garcia spoke at the pre-match press conference. The focus was primarily on the great anticipation surrounding the competition and the clear objectives for it – and, given the circumstances, on a last-minute change to the opposition line-up.
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The champions of Slovenia NK Celje are in a European competition for the fourth time in their history. This Wednesday, 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the side lead by head coach Vitor Campelos visit the BayArena for matchday 1 in the group stage in the UEFA Europa League. Celje’s last match at the weekend did not go to plan. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Construction work continues on the ‘Haus der Talente’ on Kurtekottenweg in Leverkusen, where 36 young elite athletes will find a new home from next summer. The building team from Temmink Bau, led by Thomas Wellers, are hard at work. Over the past few days, excavators, wheeled loaders and rollers have removed 2,500 cubic metres of soil to excavate the basement.
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