Soldiers who are going back to the front, an actress who excelled as a shot putter and a swimmer who survived a shark attack. The Paralympics participants and their stories.
The 17th Paralympics are over. Many athletes with special stories fought for medals in Paris. Some caused a sensation in sports, others want to give new courage as a positive example.
Alexandra Truwit (swimming)
The 24-year-old American was attacked by a shark in 2023 and lost a leg. Just three months later, she took part in a para competition for the first time. “I remember the whole attack. I was conscious the whole time and it was hard to hear the sound of water again and not think about the attack. But it was important not to lose my love for the water,” said Truwit. In Paris, she won the silver medal in the 400-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke.
Dmytro Melnyk and Yevgeny Korinets (volleyball)
The two Ukrainian soldiers will return to the front after the games to support their country in the Russian war of aggression. According to the French daily newspaper “Le Monde”, they are the only two of 130 participants from Ukraine who are soldiers in their homeland. “I felt uncomfortable confessing to the 30 members of my military platoon why I was going to Paris,” said Melnyk. He finds it difficult to reconcile both worlds. The two athletes were unable to win a medal.
Zakia Khudadadi (Taekwondo)
Zakia Khudadadi has written herself into the history books in Paris. She won the first ever medal for the Paralympic Refugee Team, coming third in the 47 kilogram class. Her story: The 25-year-old was born with only one hand and was discriminated against because of it. At the age of ten, she tried to take her own life. She fled Afghanistan to Paris and gathered new courage.
Jodie Grinham (archery)
The expectant mother won two medals in Paris: bronze in the individual and gold in the mixed team. Grinham explained that she has already decided what words she will say to her baby in just over two months after these successes. “You were on the podium – the youngest member to stand on the podium,” she will say.
Elena Semechin (swimming)
Her world record is special. Semechin, who swims under the name Krawzow for sponsorship reasons, won the most important battle before the Paralympics – for now. After being diagnosed with cancer, the visually impaired 30-year-old fought her way back onto the big stage. “I needed sport to distract myself from the misery,” she said. However, the cancer could return.
Rogerio Junior Xavier de Oliveira (badminton)
The 23-year-old will probably never forget the games in Paris, even though he didn’t win a medal in the Arena La Chapelle. He asked for the hand of his girlfriend Edwarda Dias on the court. She was competing for Brazil in sitting volleyball.
Sheetal Devi (Archery)
The young Indian originally wanted to earn her living as a teacher. She started archery at the age of 14, and three years later she qualified for the Paralympics and won the bronze medal. She aims with her foot because she lives without arms.
Valentina Petrillo (sprinter)
As the first openly transgender runner, Valentina Petrillo from Italy wants to set a positive example. “I dream of a future in which there are no more children, girls, teenagers who are forced to hide, to be afraid, to not be able to express themselves as they are: in the family, in society, in everyday activities,” she said through tears.
Bruna Alexandre (table tennis)
4,400 athletes are taking part in the Paralympics in Paris. However, Brazilian Bruna Alexandre is the only athlete who has also competed in the Olympic Games. She played against South Korea in the team competition just under a month ago. “I am very happy that I can represent all people with disabilities here and show that everything is possible,” the 29-year-old said recently in an interview with “Sportschau”.
Lauritta Onye (shot put)
Her big dream was to work as an actress. The 1.25 meter tall Nigerian has made this dream come true. In 2015, she played in “Lords of Money” under the name Laury White. She describes sport as a way to relax, and at the opening ceremony Onye was allowed to carry the flag of her home country.
Source: Stern
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