Refugee athletes deliver 'message of perseverance' as they seek medals at Paris Paralympics

Athletes on the Refugee Paralympic Team are looking to send a message of hope as they strive for the podium at the 2024 Paralympic Games that begin in Paris next week.

Eight Paralympians and one runner guide who fled conflict and persecution in their homelands are hoping to earn medals in six sports: para-athletics, para-powerlifting, para-table tennis, para-taekwondo, para-triathlon, and wheelchair fencing.

Among them is Ibrahim Al Hussein, a Syrian athlete who will be competing in para-triathlon. Al Hussein lost his right foot and parts of his left foot in 2012 during the civil war that ravaged his country and forced him to flee to Greece.

Like many on his team, he wants to prove that anything is possible, despite the challenges that come with being both disabled and uprooted from your home.

Living in crowded refugee camps for years with little or no access to training centres, Al Hussein and others overcame many obstacles to reach top sporting competitions.

Hadi Darvish a para-powerlifter from Iran, initially couldn't access a gym where he was living in Germany because he lacked a bank account due to his pending refugee status. But he kept trying until he found a place where he could train. His persistence paid off. In 2022 he won first place in the German National Championships among able-bodied competitors.

Guillaume Junior Atangana thought that his dreams of becoming a professional athlete had been dashed when he lost his eyesight. But instead of ending his sporting career, he discovered that running with the help of a guide could take him even further.

"I've been able to put in some great performances that some able-bodied people can't manage," he told The Associated Press. "I'm very happy about that."

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