PARIS, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Jurgen Klopp, former manager of Premier League club Liverpool FC, came to Paris to cheer for his long-time friend Wojtek Czyz at the Paralympic Games.

The 57-year-old German, who resigned as Liverpool manager at the end of last season, was spotted in the stands at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena on Thursday, watching badminton player Czyz suffering a 21-5, 21-2 defeat to Daniel Bethell of Britain.

"If I had time in the past, I would have shown up earlier, but it is the first time in my life that I can come here," said Klopp. "A nice part of this is that my good friend Wojtek is part of the Paralympics, so we can combine the two things."

Czyz, 44, represented Germany at three Paralympic Games from 2004 to 2012 and bagged home four golds, one silver and two bronzes from the athletics events.

Previously, Czyz had signed a contract with a professional football club in Germany, but never made it as a player after suffering a serious knee injury which caused the amputation of his lower left leg.

"The stories behind [Paralympic] athletes are always special and the one of my friend here is super special," said Klopp. "That's what I love about sports, that it can change the world. Sometimes only for a moment and sometimes forever."

But Czyz's special story didn't end as a prolific Paralympic champion. After retiring from para athletics, he and his wife sailed around the world in the aim of helping amputees in remote islands to receive prosthetics.

"Over five years, we were happy to provide prosthetics to 90 patients and change their lives. We started in Germany and made our way to New Zealand. It was an incredible time when we could help and make an impact," said Czyz before his first badminton match at the Paralympics.

Being stuck in New Zealand due to the pandemic, Czyz began another surreal journey - playing badminton and representing New Zealand at the Paris Olympics.

"I started from absolutely zero. You should have seen me two years ago - people were thinking, 'what the heck is this guy doing?' Now I am on a stage with the world's best players as the first-ever representative of New Zealand in para badminton. It makes me incredibly proud," he said.

"He's crazy," commented Klopp. "He is constantly doing things that I'm not brave enough to do. He only told me yesterday how easy it is to dive with sharks. I was like 'yes, I've heard it now but I still don't do it'." Enditem

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