Florian Von Acker is one of the finest table tennis athletes with autism who competes for Belgium at the Paralympic Games. As he prepares to take on the stage at his third Paralympic Games at the Paris 2024, let’s find out more about the life journey this splendid athlete has walked.  

At the age of 19, Florian Van Acker had already made his mark in the world of table tennis, carrying Belgium to the highest levels of the sport. Competing in the Class 11 category for athletes with intellectual impairment, Florian became a symbol of perseverance and success, earning accolades on the global stage. 

Born in Zalău, Romania, Florian faced a challenging start to life. Abandoned shortly after birth, he spent his early years in an orphanage and a transitional foster family before being adopted at three and a half by Belgian couple Eric and Dora Van Acker-Debedts. Reflecting on their initial experiences with Florian, Dora shared,  

“He was active, impulsive, agitated. At first, we thought that this agitation and tension were due to his stay at the orphanage. At school, if something did not interest him, he would close his book, and that was it, full stop. He agreed to make a little effort only if he liked his teacher. Fortunately, this evolved positively over the years.” 

Florian’s journey was far from easy. Growing up with autism and an intellectual impairment, he faced numerous hurdles in communication, autonomy, and social interaction. Despite these challenges, Florian found peace and strength in sports.  

“Because of my autism and my slight intellectual impairment, it is not always easy for me to join a group of people who don’t know me. They do not see that I have a disability.” 

“Thanks to sport, I am calmer and I have more confidence in my abilities,” he said. 

Florian received his international eligibility with Virtus in February 2012, which opened doors for him at the international para-sports competitions. 

His introduction to table tennis came through a friend, William, who taught him the sport and believed in his potential. This belief paid off, as Florian quickly rose through the ranks, making his debut at the World Championships in 2014, where he won a bronze medal. A year later, he became the European Champion in Class 11. 

Florian’s biggest breakthrough moment came at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where he claimed gold in the Class 11 category. Describing this monumental achievement, Florian said, 

 “It was a dream come true. It’s an incredible feeling, like the excitement of a child the day before the start of the summer holidays.” 

His success continued, and despite the challenges of adapting to new environments and the pressures of competition, Florian secured a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. His disciplined approach towards the preparation, including arriving in Rio a week early to acclimate and maintaining a strict routine, showcased his dedication and resilience.  

“It is not easy for a person with autism to get out of his usual environment, especially in a stressful context,” he noted. 

Now, Florian is gearing up for his third Paralympic Games. With his eyes set on more victories, he remains focused on the future. Beyond his personal achievements, Florian’s story serves as a beacon of hope and motivation for others. His advice to fellow autistic individuals is heartfelt and powerful:  

“First and foremost, believe in yourself and those who support you, help you, and believe in you… My motto, ‘never give up’ is as relevant to sport as it is to life in general.” 

Florian’s journey from a challenging start in Romania to the pinnacle of representing and winning medals for Belgium at the Paralympic Games is a testament to his unwavering spirit and determination. His achievements have not only brought pride to his family and country but have also inspired countless others facing similar challenges. As he prepares for the upcoming Paralympic Games, the world will be watching, ready to witness more of Florian Van Acker’s remarkable journey of triumph and resilience. 

Florian’s story underscores the extraordinary potential within each of us, proving that with support, belief, and relentless effort, we can overcome any obstacle and achieve greatness. 

Join Virtus’ #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign in making Florian’s journey Visible. 

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT? 

Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments including intellectual disability, Down syndrome and autism. Having an intellectual impairment impacts how an athlete understands the rules of the sport, interacts with other players, and adjusts to different environments. They might find it difficult to manage reaction times, remember specific race or game strategies, retain focus for long period of time, or maintaining impulse control.  

Poleth Mendes, Ecuador’s ultimate champion broke the dry spell of Ecuador at the Paralympic Games at the Tokyo 2020 by winning Ecuador’s first Paralympic Gold medal. Born in the community of Tumbatú, Bolivar canton, Carchi Province, Poleth is the second of four children in her family. Her journey from a small town to the global stage is a testament to her resilience and determination. 

“My biggest supporters are my family—my dad, mom, and siblings,“ Poleth shares, highlighting the unwavering support system that has been crucial to her success.  

“I think I was born with that gift of being an athlete and since I was a little girl I have liked it, I was involved in everything related to sports, in both school and college. I tried many different sports, but the one that caught my attention the most was athletics. I like the technique and I like it because it’s a strength-related sport”, she says, reflecting on her early passion for athletics.  

Poleth’s role model is unique—she looks up to herself, which underscores her self-reliance and inner strength. This confidence is mirrored in her training regimen, which is intense and demanding.  

“It’s a double-day workout, two and a half hours in the morning, two and a half hours in the afternoon, three days of technique and two days of weight training,” she explains. 

Training with her sister, Anais Mandez, who also has intellectual impairment and is a shot-put thrower and won bronze at the Tokyo 2020, has added a special dimension to her athletic journey.  

“It feels great to train with someone I’ve grown up with all my life. We get along, make jokes, laugh, and correct each other, I enjoy training and travelling with her”, she says.  

“We support each other by correcting mistakes when we do technique. With more experience, I tell her what I have been through, and what I have experienced so that she can continue on that path of success,” she further added. 

Poleth has faced challenges due to her intellectual impairment, particularly with memory.  

“It has affected me in the matter of memorizing things, I easily forget them,” she admits. However, she has not let this define her.  

Poleth acknowledges that there is often a lack of understanding about intellectual impairments within society.  

“I have faced discrimination and negative attitudes because of my impairment, but it is not something that has dominated me. I think the reason behind all these negative attitudes is the lack of information and knowledge about disability, only those who go through it know perfectly well what this intellectual impairment is like and how it affects us.” 

This gap in understanding is something she hopes to bridge through her achievements and advocacy.  

Poleth received her international eligibility with Virtus in July 2017 which opened doors for her at the international para-sports competitions. Poleth made an impressive win for Ecuador in the Women’s shot put F20 at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, where she created history by winning the first Paralympic medal for Ecuador. She also set New World and Paralympic records with a distance of 14.39m.  

Poleth recently won silver in the T20 shot-put at Kobe 2024, gold at the II1 women’s shot-put and silver in discuss throw from the 2023 Virtus Global games. Reflecting on her historic achievement at Tokyo 2020, where she won the first Paralympic medal for Ecuador, Poleth is focused on Paris 2024.  

“I hope to bring out everything I’ve trained for, all my dedication and effort, to achieve a second Paralympic gold and come back with my second gold medal,” she declares. 

When asked about her biggest competitor, Poleth’s response is introspective: “Myself.” This highlights her belief in self-improvement and personal growth.  

She also mentioned the significant role Virtus Global Games played in her preparation for the Paralympic Games.  

“It helped me to know, to see how my rivals are doing, and according to that, to make an analysis and adjustment,” she explains. 

Poleth’s favourite medal is the one she won in Tokyo, a symbol of her hard work and triumph.

“My ultimate goal in life is to start my own family and have children,” she shares, revealing a personal dream beyond athletics. 

Her message to young athletes with intellectual impairments is powerful,

“If you have a dream, keep going and don’t stop for anything. There are no obstacles in life other than the ones we set for ourselves.” 

Poleth Mendes’s journey is a source of inspiration, not just for athletes with disabilities but for anyone facing challenges. As she prepares for Paris 2024, she continues to break barriers and redefine what is possible.  

“Through this campaign, we invite people to empathize and understand athletes who have disabilities, to know our dreams, and to support us as we aim for the top,” she concludes. 

Join Virtus’ #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign in making Poleth’s journey Visible. 

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT? 

Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments including intellectual disability, Down syndrome and autism. Having an intellectual impairment impacts how an athlete understands the rules of the sport, interacts with other players, and adjusts to different environments. They might find it difficult to manage reaction times, remember specific race or game strategies, retain focus for long period of time, or maintaining impulse control.  

As the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games draw near, Denmark eagerly anticipates the debut of one of its brightest stars, Paralympic swimmer Alexander Hillhouse.

From the calming waters of his backyard pool to the world stage, Alexander’s journey is as inspiring as it is remarkable.

“My biggest supporter is my mom, dad, coaches, and teammates. They mean the world to me, and I’m grateful to have them by my side wherever I go,” Alexander shares, reflecting on the unwavering encouragement that has fuelled his athletic journey.

Unlike many other athletes who fell in love with their sport in school or through therapy, Alexander fell in love with the sport in his backyard pool and how killer whales used to swim.

“I had a back pool in the backyard. When I was little and I just fell in love with it (swimming). I thought that it would be pretty cool, just probably swim to swim in it and I found it interesting and like killer whales and how they swim. And I think I just wanted to be like them because I just love the pool and I like the whales and how they swim and I think it got me motivated to train all the time.”

Inspired by swimming legend Michael Phelps, Alexander’s passion for the sport ignited after witnessing Phelps’ historic achievements at the Beijing Olympics.  

“Phelps is my role model, his success motivated me to pursue swimming with all my heart,“ Alexander enthuses. 

Navigating the challenges of early morning training sessions and the invisible nature of his intellectual impairment, Alexander remains stubborn in his hunt of excellence.

“It’s just something that I have and I’m alright with that or that I figure out that I could be this person, you know. In other words, like, sure, we’ll give it a shot and see how it goes. And I gotta say, having intellectual impairment has changed my life actually. Going around the world, representing my country, winning competitions.”

“Everyone thinks that I just look like a normal person, but when they see me then they know that I’m a little bit autistic. You can see the impairment in people who have physical or visual impairment, but everyone just doesn’t think that about me. It’s good in a way. Everyone just thinks that I’m just a normal kid and I’m just swimming really fast.  

“Waking up early is tough, but it’s part of the journey, but I’m committed to pushing my limits and achieving my goals.” he admits.  

With a rigorous training regimen comprising 10 sessions per week, Alexander’s dedication is unwavering. 

“I train every morning from Monday to Friday, with additional sessions on Saturdays,” he explains. “It’s demanding, but I love every moment in the pool.“ 

Alexander received his Virtus eligibility in early 2020 which opened his international para-swimming career. Alexander won two gold, three silver and two bronze at the 2023 Virtus Global Games and aspires to repeat his results at the next Global Games too. 

“Vichy 2023 was my first Virtus Global Games, I did some great racing over there. It was pretty amazing. All the friendships I made there were like pretty real. My hard work paid off as I came back with some amazing results. I hope I can do the same at the upcoming Global Games in Cairo 2027.” 

Alexander won two gold, three silver and two bronze along with four Danish records at the 2023 Virtus Global games last year.

Reflecting on his journey, Alexander also highlighted his silver medal win at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester as a defining moment. 

 “Qualifying for Paris 2024 was a dream come true, it’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone who supported me.”  

Looking ahead, Alexander’s sights are set on breaking the world record in the 100m butterfly, a feat that epitomizes his pursuit of excellence.  

“I’m determined to push the boundaries of what’s possible, it’s a challenge I’m ready to embrace,” he asserts. 

As Alexander prepares to represent Denmark at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, his focus extends beyond medals to embracing the experience of competing on the global stage. 

“I’ve been wanting a medal since like Michael Phelps won a gold medal and just any medal and I am also looking forward to the whole Paralympic games experience too. I think the experience could be amazing because it’s Paris 2024, it only happens once in four years, It’s a privilege to compete alongside friends from around the world,“ Alexander shares. 

To aspiring athletes with intellectual impairments, Alexander’s message is one of resilience and determination. 

“Never give up, with dedication and perseverance, anything is possible ”  

As Denmark rallies behind Alexander Hillhouse, the nation celebrates his journey from backyard pools to international podiums. With each stroke, Alexander embodies the spirit of determination and the power of dreams, proving that with unwavering commitment, the sky’s the limit. 

Join Virtus’ #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign in making Alexander’s journey Visible.

What is Intellectual Impairment? 

Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments including intellectual disability, Down syndrome and autism. Having an intellectual impairment impacts how an athlete understands the rules of the sport, interacts with other players, and adjusts to different environments. They might find it difficult to manage reaction times, remember specific race or game strategies, retain focus for long period of time, or maintaining impulse control.