“All Paralympians have tales of unbelievable resilience however the tales of those athletes and their journeys as refugees surviving conflict and persecution to compete on the Paralympic Video games is off-the-charts awe inspiring,” said Andrew Parsons, Worldwide Paralympic Committee (IPC) President.
Representing greater than 120 million forcibly displaced individuals and 1.2 billion with disabilities worldwide, these eight athletes are primarily based in six nations and can compete throughout six sports activities – Para athletics, Para powerlifting, Para desk tennis, Para taekwondo, Para triathlon, and wheelchair fencing.
“These athletes have persevered and proven unbelievable willpower to get to Paris 2024 and provides each refugee around the globe hope. The Refugee Paralympic Workforce shines a highlight on the transformational influence of sport,” Mr. Parsons added.
‘By no means cease dreaming’
Now dwelling in Italy, Amelio Castro Grueso is about to compete in wheelchair fencing in Paris. After enduring the demise of his mom in Colombia at solely 16, he confronted additional tragedy simply 4 years later when he misplaced the usage of his legs in a site visitors accident.
He was then pressured to flee his homeland resulting from threats in opposition to him, arriving in a brand new nation in a wheelchair with out realizing the language spoken or anybody to assist him.
After a protracted journey of restoration, he vowed to write down a guide to share his story – however realised that extra individuals would learn it if he had been a medal-winning athlete.
Of his best sporting achievements thus far, Mr. Grueso gained bronze within the Males’s Epee Class B within the 2024 Wheelchair fencing America’s Championship in Brazil this Could.
His expertise has proven him that, even amid great hardship, life’s most vital lesson is to by no means surrender.
“By no means cease dreaming and that regardless of how tough your life or the second you’re dealing with, do not surrender, hold preventing. The day you least anticipate it, you’ll find that mild on the finish of the tunnel and that fantastic second will come when every part modifications for the higher,” he stated.
‘A mannequin for all of us’
Among the many different members is Syrian refugee Ibrahim Al Hussein. After shedding his leg in an explosion making an attempt to save lots of his good friend in the course of the civil conflict in Syria in 2012, he fled to Greece in a wheelchair with no cash in his pocket.
This shall be Mr. Hussein’s third successive Paralympic Video games representing the Refugee Paralympic Workforce.
In the meantime, Guillaume Junior Atangana from Cameroon is making ready for his second Paralympic Video games after ending fourth within the 400 metre T11 in Tokyo 2020.
Although he initially needed to be a fantastic footballer, he turned to athletics when he misplaced his eyesight.
This yr, he’ll line up alongside his information and fellow refugee Donard Ndim Nyamjua.
‘By no means cease believing’
Whereas the tales of all of the members echo the immense adversity every of them have confronted, one message shines via time and time once more: nothing is inconceivable.
“The Refugee Paralympic Workforce gives a mannequin for all of us. Irrespective of how tough their circumstances, these athletes have discovered a solution to compete on the very highest stage of Paralympic sport,” the Refugee Paralympic Workforce chief Nyasha Mharakurwa stated.
