Refugee Paralympic Team Shines with Historic Medals at Paris 2024

Zakia Khudadadi claimed bronze in the women's Para taekwondo K44-47kg category, while Guillaume Junior Atangana earned bronze in the men's T11 400m athletics event.

The Refugee Paralympic Team (RPT) celebrated a landmark achievement at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, winning their first-ever medals in two events. Zakia Khudadadi claimed bronze in the women's Para taekwondo K44-47kg category, while Guillaume Junior Atangana earned bronze in the men's T11 400m athletics event.

Eight athletes and a guide runner represented the RPT, competing in six of the 22 sports. The team, the largest in RPT's history, displayed extraordinary determination, competing under the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) flag. At the Closing Ceremony, Khudadadi carried the IPC flag, a symbol of resilience for refugees worldwide.

IPC President Andrew Parsons praised the team, highlighting their two medals as historic milestones for the refugee athletes. The team's achievements come after the Refugee Olympic Team also secured its first medal earlier this summer.

The athletes' performances, including those by Hadi Hassanzada, Ibrahim Al Hussein, Amelio Castro Grueso, and Salman Abbariki, showcased the perseverance of displaced individuals overcoming incredible challenges to compete on the global stage.