Afghan Taekwondo Para-Athlete Makes History by Winning Refugee Paralympic Team’s First Medal
PARIS — Zakia Khudadadi made history on Thursday during the Paris Paralympic Games becoming the first Paralympic Refugee Team athlete to win a medal.
Khudadadi won bronze in the women’s 47kg category by beating Turkey’s Ekinci Nurcihan. When the final buzzer sounded at the Grand Palais in central Paris, Khudadadi erupted in joy, throwing her helmet and mouthguard into the air.
“It was a surreal moment, my heart started racing when I realized I had won bronze,” Khudadadi said, her voice shaking with emotion. “I have been through so much to get here. This medal is for all the women of Afghanistan and all the refugees in the world. I hope that one day there will be peace in my country.”
Khudadadi, who was born without forearms, began practicing taekwondo in secret at the age of 11 in a hidden gym in her hometown of Herat in western Afghanistan.
Initially banned from competition following the rise of The Taliban in 2021She was later evacuated from Afghanistan and allowed to participate in the Tokyo Olympics for his country following an appeal from the international community.
After the competition, she moved to Paris and was later offered the opportunity to compete with the refugee team at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
“This medal means everything to me, I will never forget that day,” Khudadadi said. “I won because of the great support I received from the public.”
The atmosphere at the Grand Palais was electric, with the French crowd cheering her on as if she were one of their own. Since fleeing Afghanistan, Khudadadi has been training at INSEP, the French National Institute of Sport, in Paris, with her French coach Haby Niare, a former taekwondo world champion.
“Zakia has been magical. I don’t know how else to say it,” Niare said, beaming with pride. “The training process has been tough. She’s dealt with a lot of injuries and she’s had to learn a lot in a few years, but she’s never lost sight of her goal.”
Khudadadi received his medal from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi. Andrew Parsonsthe president of the International Paralympic Committee.
“For the Refugee Paralympic Team, this is very special, this is very important,” Parsons said. “Zakia has just shown the world how good she is. It’s an incredible journey, it’s something we should all learn from.” ___
