Andreas Onea: From casting flop to celebrated sports presenter!

Andreas Onea: From casting flop to celebrated sports presenter!

Andreas Onea, a prime example of perseverance and talent, amazed viewers again at the weekend. The 32-year-old swimmer, who has won numerous medals at the Paralympic Games and World Championships, hosted the “Sport aktuell” program on ORF for the 100th time. During his moderation, Onea made a small slip-up when he accidentally referred to the Swiss skiers as “welders”. He immediately corrected himself and explained the situation with a smile: "The direction first understood shit instead of Swiss. But that was clearly not it," he said Austrian broadcasting reported.

From challenge to achievement

The Zwettler native, who lost his left arm in a tragic car accident in 1998, found his passion in swimming during his rehabilitation. Onea has developed into one of the most successful para-athletes in Austria, with a total of 12 medals in international competitions. In his career he has won five Paralympics and numerous international medals, including bronze at the 2016 Rio Games in the 100m breaststroke. He was also the fastest in the 50 m breaststroke in 2008, setting a world record Wikipedia is held.

A notable detail about Onea is his honest perspective on life with a disability. He emphasizes that his son has taught him more about life than he could ever show him: "The world should be seen without prejudice, without fear of contact and with a lot of love," he explained. Erika Onea shows that despite all the challenges, with passion, hard work and a big dose of luck, anything is possible. With a clear goal in mind, he seems to overcome the ups and downs of life and sport with consistent determination and a smile.