For children in Baden-Württemberg, the new school year started on Monday, September 8. This information may appear surprising here at first glance, since it doesn´t sound as though it has anything to do with the Paralympics. But that is not so. With the end of summer vacation, the Emmendingen school for girls and boys with physical disabilities in the Black Forest has a new name: "Esther-Weber School". The name Esther Weber and the Paralympics? There is no way to separate those two.

Esther Weber has already assumed responsibility for several educational projects and mobility training for children at the Emmendingen school. But what is it like, walking into a school that bears your own name? "Having this school named after me is a very special honor," says Esther Weber, who was selected by the students, teachers and parents with a large majority. "I want to help handicapped students, and am hoping for support and cooperation from politics and commerce so that these students will have the opportunity for the most independent, fulfilled lives possible even after they complete their education!"

Having a public school named after you is a rare honor, recognizing a great personality and popular figure in recent Paralympics history. Esther Weber has so many athletic accomplishments to her name and has earned so many awards, she has long since run out of room on her autograph card: Gold in individual epee fencing, Barcelona 1992 as well as two silver medals in team competition (Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000). Bronze in individual foil fencing in 1992 and 1996, bronze in team competition in 1996 and 2000, and another individual silver medal in Sydney.
 
The 18-time German champion won over 20 additional medals at the world and European championships. Three times she was awarded the Silver Laurel Leaf as Germany's highest award for sports achievement. 1992 Female Athlete of the Year in Freiburg, four-time Baden Athlete of the Year between 1996 and 2000, 2004 Prize for Tolerance and Fair Play awarded by the Federal Minister of the Interior and presented by Rosi Mittermaier-Neureuther at Paralympics Night.  

Former representative of wheelchair fencers and a member of the executive committee of the German Olympic Society, instructor for the Baden-Württemberg project "Disabled Helping the Able-Bodied", participation in several church congresses and involvement in the Evangelical Church & Sport Workgroup. Last but not least: Esther Weber has been a representative of Otto Bock HealthCare since 1993.  

The entire Otto Bock team in Beijing would like to send their warmest greetings and sincere congratulations to Esther Weber!