In February of 2022, Michelle Knappmann, after swimming with a friend, stepped out of her car and couldn’t stand up. She was in severe pain. The next day, she could stand, but the pain in her back and left leg persisted.
Just a month before this, she had completed her training as a Danish sign language interpreter and was preparing to start her first job. Her routine included regular strength training at the gym and an active social life with friends and family.
Michelle previously had a prolapsed disc at L5/S1 in 2019, which required surgery in early 2020. Diagnosing this new issue was challenging—public healthcare didn’t confirm a new prolapse, but private care diagnosed one in September 2022. She had surgery two weeks later, but it didn’t resolve the pain. A degenerative disc was discovered, leading to fusion surgery in February 2023. While the back pain was eliminated, the nerve damage and leg pain became permanent.
Making Adjustments
From March to May 2022, she reduced her work hours from 20 to 9 per week. She lost her job in January 2023 due to the number of sick days she needed. “My employer was incredibly supportive throughout my injury and surgeries, but the uncertainty about when—or if—I could return to interpreting full-time made it unsustainable for them to keep me on. It was a fair decision, and I’m grateful for the kindness and support they showed me during that time.”
Walking became difficult; she used crutches outside and could only walk 100–200 meters before needing to rest.
Adapting To a New Normal
Today, she’s an ambulatory wheelchair user—she walks around at home but uses her wheelchair when she’s out in the world for grocery shopping, going to the gym, or other activities.
She gradually returned to the gym, but traditional cardio was no longer an option. “Before my injury, I’d enjoyed activities like jump roping, rollerblading, and cycling, but those were no longer feasible.”
Joining the Danish National Paracycling Team
In the summer of 2024, she remembered seeing information about handcycling and contacted the Danish Handbike Association. Two weeks later, she tried a recumbent handbike. In February 2025, she joined a training trip to Lanzarote with the association. “The national team coach, Amalie Winther Olsen, introduced me to the kneeling handbike (H5 class), which better suited my remaining core and leg strength. I’ve been part of the national team since then.”
“Paracycling provided a way forward. It allowed me to rebuild strength and endurance without worsening my condition.”
Zwifting with Paracycling Denmark
Michelle started Zwifting in late 2025 to train with Paracycling Denmark. She trains 5–7 times a week on the bike and 1–3 times for strength. The focus is on progress and consistency.
Zwift allows her to maintain consistent training, especially during winter when outdoor cycling isn’t possible. Zwift has been both a training tool and a community, as she’s connected with others from across Denmark and around the world. It also lets her train alongside her partner on equal terms, which isn’t possible outdoors.
Disappointment in Thailand
One of the major events Michelle was training hard for was the UCI Para Cycling Road World Cup event in Thailand in March. She aimed to be classified as an H5. (H5 is a handcycling classification for athletes with the lowest level of physical impairment among handcyclists.)
Unfortunately, it was not achievable because she didn’t meet the UCI’s minimum impairment criteria for H5 classification, even though clinical tests confirm that her muscles don’t connect properly with her nerves and brain.
“The abilities I have with my left leg mean I don’t meet the minimum impairment criteria as of now. Depending on if and how much worse my disability gets, I’ll might be able to classify later in life,” Michelle says. “Para sports and classes will never be completely fair, but I believe they’ll need tweaking and I’ll keep being a voice for that.”
For now, she’s working hard with her coach to identify new races and goals – and looking to raise funds for a new handbike.
Help Michelle Get a New, Modern Handbike
Michelle really needs a new, more modern handbike. “I’m currently using a second-hand bike that doesn’t fit me properly, which is why I’m seeking a new one. To get a good bike that truly fits me, it’s actually best to have it custom-built.”
She’s started a GoFundMe to raise the money she needs. You can help her out at gofundme.com/f/help-a-para-cyclist-fund-a-new-modern-handbike/
Thanks for sharing your story, Michelle! Keep on rolling strong!
You can follow her journey at:
- Zwift: Michelle Knappmann
- IG: https://www.instagram.com/handbiking.michelle/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@handbiking.michelle
wpDiscuz
