Zakia Khudadadi is poised to make history once again at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Khudadadi, a taekwondo athlete, broke new ground in 2021 when she became the first Afghan woman to compete in an international sporting event since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.
Initially barred from competing due to the Taliban’s rise, Khudadadi was later evacuated from Afghanistan following international appeals, allowing her to represent her country.
In Paris, Khudadadi is competing on behalf of Afghan women, who have seen their basic rights severely restricted over the past three years. She is representing the Refugee Team and reflects on her journey starting with secret taekwondo training at a gym in Herat when she was 11, due to limited opportunities for women.
Despite a restrictive culture, Khudadadi’s family supported her athletic ambitions, which she credits with helping her achieve success. Her disability, a congenital absence of one forearm, added to the challenges she faced in a country where people with disabilities are often marginalized.
Khudadadi’s visibility increased as she won medals, with taekwondo providing a platform for her to challenge stigma. She gained prominence in 2016 and saw her path to success altered dramatically in 2021 with the Taliban’s return to power.
Trapped in Kabul while preparing for the Tokyo Games, Khudadadi’s initial exclusion from the Paralympics was announced by the International Paralympic Committee due to the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. She made a public appeal for help, leading to her evacuation to Tokyo where she became the first Afghan female Paralympian in nearly 20 years.
In 2023, Khudadadi won gold at the European Para Championships. Para taekwondo, which made its Paralympic debut in Tokyo 2021, is only the second contact sport to be added to the Paralympic program after judo.
“When I compete,” Khudadadi said, “I show all the strength of the girls and women in my country.”
