Toninho Norden (28) was heavily wounded in Afghanistan during a military patrol near Tarin Kowt (Uruzgan). The jeep in which he was riding exploded from a roadside bomb. Two of his colleagues were killed (Dennis van Uhm and Mark Schouwink), Tony was seriously injured and lost both legs. After a 5 year revalidation period, Tony decided to become a top sporter. Here he is mentally preparing for an intense workout.

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Toninho Norden is a war veteran, born in 1987, he was heavily wounded by a roadside bomb during a military mission in Afghanistan. During a patrol, the vehicle he was in exploded due to an IED (Improvised Explosive Device), two of his colleagues who were with him died and he lost both his legs. He woke up after being two weeks in coma in a military hospital in Utrecht (Netherlands). After an intensive revalisation period, Tony started to train heavily, and after some time became a top athlete. He competes in three disciplines: powerlifting, wheelchair basketball and ball throw.He is part of the Dutch team of wounded soldiers who competed this year at the Invictus Games in Orlando (United States). Tony is now preparing for the Paralympics in 2020. One of his plans for the near future is to give lectures to other people about the things he went through in his revalidation period and to inspire people to make the best out of life. Photographer Jan-Joseph Stok followed him intensively during two months in his preparation for the games and in his daily life.


After his 5 years of intensive rehabilitation, Tony has decided to focus on sports (powerlifting, shot-put and wheelchair basketball) and compete professionaly at it. Here he is in one of the training spaces where he trains regularly.

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 Many of the tattoos on the body of Toninho Norden have a special meaning. It is a way to hide the wounds, but also at the same time a way to remember what has happened back then.

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 Toninho Norden comes out of a tent during a birthday party of his father.

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Toninho Norden (28) trains with Steve Chelius one of his coaches (who is also a family member) at the USC in Amsterdam in preparation for the Invictus Games (a paralympic tournament for wounded soldiers, which took place this year in Florida).

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Toninho Norden ( 28) is training for Ball throw for the Invictus Games of 2016 in Orlando.

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Toninho at a wheelchair basketball match with the Dutch team which is also participating in the Invictus Games in Orlando.

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Toninho Norden (28) gets a very intensive training by his coach Steve Chelius in preparation to the Invictus Games. Here he has to lift a very heavy ball.

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 Toninho is treated by physiotherapist Bruce Fritz who uses a form of acupuncture to relieve muscle pain.

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 Toninho Norden ( 28) at a training facility, taking a rest.

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 Toninho Norden plays with the windshield wipers of his colleagues. Tony is a very positive person with tremendous perseverance, laughter is one of his best medicines.

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 Toninho Norden is at the supermarket with his wife Brit.

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 Toninho is at the anniversary of his father, who has become fifty. The father of Toninho is also his coach for the part powerlifting at the Invictus Games.

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 Toninho Norden (28) kisses his wife to say goodbye at Schiphol airport just before leaving to the Invictus Games in Orlando (Florida, US).

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 Toninho Norden ( 28) is taking his belongings from his car, at a parking near a sport center where he is going to compete with his wheelchair basketball team.

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