Zakia Khudadadi has etched her name into the Paralympic history books by winning the first-ever medal for the Refugee Paralympic Team at the Paris 2024 Games.

The 25-year-old taekwondo athlete secured a bronze medal in the K44-47kg category on Thursday, 29 August

Khudadadi, originally from Afghanistan and now based in France, has walked a long, difficult road. Her journey from fleeing her homeland, overcoming immense personal and political hardships, to competing in Paris, where she was cheered on by enthusiastic local fans, underscores her resilience and determination.

Despite a narrow defeat in the quarter-finals, Khudadadi triumphed in the repechage match against Türkiye’s Nurcihan Ekinci, seizing the opportunity when Morocco’s Naoual Laarif withdrew from the final bout.

Her victory not only marks a personal achievement but also represents a significant milestone for the Refugee Paralympic Team, which has been competing since the Rio 2016 Games.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, and International Paralympic Committee President, Andrew Parsons, lauded Khudadadi’s accomplishment as a symbol of hope and perseverance for displaced individuals globally.

Image Credit: Source