Abbas Karimi
Mohammad Abbas Karimi is a swimmer, who came second in the S5 (classification) 50 metre butterfly event at the 2017 World Para Swimming Championships, making him the first refugee athlete to win a medal at that competition. He is scheduled to compete for the Refugee Paralympic Team at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.
Personal life
Karimi was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and had no arms from birth.[1][2] His family is of Hazara decent, and his father died in 2019.[2]
At the age of 16, Karimi fled Afghanistan.[1] In 2013, he arrived at a refugee camp in Turkey, having travelled through Iran and the Zagros Mountains.[1] He lived in four different refugee camps in Turkey.[1] In 2016, Karimi moved to Portland, Oregon, US,[1] and in 2019, he moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.[2]
Career
At the age of 12, Karimi took up kickboxing.[2] Aged 13, he took up swimming.[2] His first competitive competition was an Afghan national championships, which he won.[2] Whilst in Turkey, he won two national championships,[1] and a total of 15 medals.[2]
At the 2017 World Para Swimming Championships, Karimi won a silver medal in the S5 (classification) 50 metre butterfly event.[2][3] He was the first refugee athlete to win a medal at a World Para Swimming Championships.[3] At the Championships, he also finished sixth in the S5 backstroke event.[4] At the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, he came sixth in the 50 metre butterfly event.[2] During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was unable to swim for several months, as all swimming pools were closed.[3]
In June 2021, Karimi was included in the Refugee Paralympic Team for the delayed 2020 Summer Paralympics.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Afghanistan's Killing Fields And Story Of Three Bravehearts Who Escaped The Dreaded Taliban". Outlook. August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Refugee Para swimmer Abbas Karimi driven to prove a lesson at Tokyo 2020". International Paralympic Committee. May 12, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Swimmer Abbas Karimi Reflects On Representing Refugees At The Paralympics In Tokyo". WBUR-FM. July 12, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- ^ "Tokyo Paralympics preview: Para swimming day 6". International Paralympic Committee. August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.