The 2024 Paris Paralympics have been a showstopper. With a number of viral moments on social media and athletes breaking data left, proper and centre, it has been an unbelievable summer time for feminine athletes. In reality, this 12 months’s Paralympics broke the document for many feminine athletes on the Paralympics.
In 2024, there are 1,983 girls competing on the Paralympics, which is 45% of the whole athletes. As compared, on the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics the ratio was 42%, with 1,846 girls competing. Right here’s hoping we are able to make it totally equal by the 2028 Video games in Los Angeles.
In an ever-terrifying information cycle, the outstanding expertise, grit and dedication on show on the Paralympics has by no means been extra wanted. We check out essentially the most empowering moments of the 2024 Paris Paralympics to date.
Zakia Khudadadi makes historical past for Afghanistan
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25-year-old Zakia Khudadadi has been beating the chances her complete life. She is the primary Afghan girl to compete in Taekwondo internationally, and she or he gained worldwide recognition after successful the African Worldwide Parataekwondo Championship in 2016 when she was solely 18.
Khudadadi went on to signify Afghanistan on the 2020 Summer time Paralympics, regardless of being initially banned from competing as a result of Taliban takeover. She was in the end granted permission by the Worldwide Paralympic Committee to compete within the occasion after being safely evacuated from Afghanistan. This made her the primary Afghan feminine Paralympian to compete on the Video games in 17 years, following monitor and area athlete Mareena Karim’s participation on the 2004 Paralympics.
Khudadadi now competes as a part of the Refugee Paralympic Workforce and made historical past this summer time by changing into the primary athlete from the crew to win a medal, successful bronze within the K44 -47kg Para-taekwondo class. She informed the BBC that this medal “sends a message for all of the refugees on this planet to observe hope, observe freedom and observe peace”.
