A little tired but with a smile on her face, Kathrin Marchand arrives for her first training session of the day. Together with her rowing partner Valentin Luz, the para-athlete will spend the first few hours of the day on the water in a double scull. A few quick stretches, and then they're off. "Five years ago, I never would have thought I'd be rowing this much again," Marchand told DW. "I consider it a privilege that I can still compete at the elite level." Now 35, Marchand made her Olympic debut in 2012 in London as part of the German women's eight. Four years later, she competed for the second time at the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. Marchand made her Olympic debut at the London Games in 2012 (seen here) and also competed in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 Image: Rainer Jensen/dpa/picture alliance After the Olympics in Brazil , Marchand ended her sporting career, completed her medical degree and then began working as a doctor in 2018 — until a stroke in 2021 turned her life upside-down.…