The 30-year-old, who has suffered from a genetic visual impairment since she was nine, carried Germany's flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics in London. 

She then won gold medal in the S11 400 metres freestyle event and a silver medal in the SM11 200m individual medley.

But Schulte confided to Harting at a recent awards ceremony in Berlin that she did not know whether she could continue until Rio 2016 because it cost so much to train.


Now Harting, 28, who won the Olympic gold medal in London to add it to the world and European titles he already held, has promised to help Schulte.

It is estimated that his kit, which includes the outfit he wore on the podium when receiving his gold medal, could raise as much as €12,000 (£10,000/$16,000) when he puts it on the auction site Ebay later this month, it is estimated.

Harting produced arguably the most memorable celebration of London 2012 when after winning the discus in the Olympic Stadium he tore off his vest and then jumped over the hurdles set-up for the women's 100 metres event.


Schulte made her Paralympic debut as a 14-year-old at Atlanta in 1996 only a year after taking up swimming, winning gold medals in both the B1-3 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays as well as two silver medals in the B1 100m freestyle and 200m individual medley events.

At Sydney 2000, Schulte added a a silver medal in the S11 100m freestyle to her tally.

She missed Athens 2004 after giving birth to twin boys the previous year but returned at Beijing in 2008 to win a bronze medal in the S11 100m freestyle.

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