10 African Athletes to Champion at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris

Kat Swanepoel

At age 21, while in her fourth year studying occupational therapy, Kat Swanepoel was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, a condition where the body’s immune system attacks its central nervous system, causing paralysis, amongst other issues. After stints playing wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby, representing South Africa in both sports, Swanepoel switched to swimming and competed at her first Paralympics in Tokyo 2020 (in 2021).

While she didn’t finish on the podium at her last outing, she’s going to Paris on the back of winning two gold medals at the World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester, England last year, where she also set an African record in the 150m individual medley. Swanepoel has revealed that she’s been reclassified ahead of schedule, and will be competing in Paris against “people who have more physical function than I do.” Defined by her inspiring resilience, the South African flag bearer is taking the challenge in stride as she hopes to win her first Paralympic medal.

Samwel Mushai Kimani

For the first time since 1988, Kenya failed to win a gold medal at the Paralympics in Tokyo. One of its gold medal guarantees, visually impaired middle distance runner Samwel Mushai Kimani missed out on the Tokyo games, after doing the 1500m and 5000m gold double in the T11 classification category at the 2016 Rio games. Competing in his fourth games, Kimani has won a medal at every Paralympics he’s been to, taking the 1500m silver in Beijing in 2008, and then gold in London four years later. Now 34, this could very well be his last games, and Kimani will be hoping to go out with gold hung around his neck as he competes in the 5000m event.

Najwa Awane

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In 2020, Najwa Awane was stuck in Turkey due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Moroccan wheelchair tennis champion traveled to train and compete in several competitions ahead of the Paralympics in Tokyo, which was eventually moved to the following year. Awane lost in the early rounds of the Tokyo games, but she’s one of the wheelchair tennis players to watch heading into Paris. At last year’s African Para games, she won gold in both the women’s singles and doubles, strengthening her case as one of the best wheelchair tennis players on the continent. A Paralympic medal will only improve her global status.

Sherif Osman

“Don't think about if you can or cannot. Trust yourself and try.” That’s the personal philosophy of Egyptian Para Powerlifter Sherif Osman. In 2012, just three months before the London games, he sustained a shoulder injury. Notwithstanding, he went on to win gold in the 56-kilogram event.

Four years prior, he made his Paralympics debut in Beijing and won gold in the same event. At the Rio De Janeiro event in 2016, he won gold in the 59-kilogram event, but couldn’t repeat in Tokyo, as he had to settle for silver. For an athlete who said he wants to win several more Paralympic medals prior to the last games, Osman, 41, is eyeing gold in the men’s up to 65-kilogram event, which will add to his tally as one of Egypt’s greatest Paralympians.

Asmahane Boudjadar

At her World Para Athletics Championships debut in 2015, Asmahane Boudjadar placed last on the rankings list after throwing a no mark in the final of the F33 shot put. A year later, she won gold at the Rio Paralympics, setting a new games record in the process. After winning consecutive world championship gold medals in 2017 and 2019, she successfully retained her Paralympic title in Tokyo. Now, she’s looking for the rare three-peat in Paris, a feat that will add to her gilded distinction as a perennial Para shot put champion.

Ayoub Sadni

Since announcing himself on the global stage by winning the 400m (T47) bronze at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, Moroccan runner Ayoub Sadni has been at the summit. In Tokyo, he breezed to his first Paralympic medal, setting a new 400m world record in the T47 category. He has followed with consecutive gold medals at the world championships in Paris and Kobe, Japan, winning the former in 2023 after an injury sidelined him in late 2022. In addition to trying to defend his Paralympic title, Sadni will be competing in the 100m (T47), as he looks to improve his medal collection beyond the specialized event he’s already known for.

Tigist Mengistu

Ethiopian Para runner Tigist Mengistu stunned her competition at the Tokyo 2020 games. She flew to the 1500m T13 gold seven seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. It was her first win at a major competition and the first-ever Paralympic gold medal for Ethiopia. There are signs of a repeat in Paris, as she recently won gold in the same event at the world championships in Kobe. Only 24, we could witness Mengistu effectively become a dominant champion in her field, starting with a successful attempt at retaining her Paralympic title.

Kayode and Christiana Alabi

Nigeria’s contingent to the Paralympics comprises a substantial lineup of table tennis players, headlined by the first African Para couple to compete at the event. Kayode and Christiana Alabi got married in 2022, and their union has seen them push each other and train together as they seek the highest honors possible. Both are top-ranked African players in their respective categories and are hoping to win gold in Paris. While Christiana will be competing in the women’s singles (Class 5) event, Kayode will be vying for medals across men’s singles (Class 6), men’s doubles (MD14), and mixed doubles (XD17) alongside 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medalist Faith Obazuaye.

Raoua Tlili

The legacy of Raoua Tlili as Tunisia’s “throwing queen” is undisputed. Before she competes in her fifth Paralympic games in Paris, Tlili’s medal haul comprises six gold medals across discus throw and shot put in the F41 category. She also holds the world records in both events, setting the discus record in Tokyo. “Over time, each medal had a unique significance until I kept succeeding every year and continued to improve. Each medal surpassed the previous one,” she said recently. With her competitive fire still alive, it only seems right to root for and expect one or more medals from the greatest African Paralympian of her generation.

Egypt Men’s Sitting Volleyball Team

As hosts of the World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Cup, Egypt was within touching distance of winning the competition, losing in the final. It’s symbolic of the team’s story over the last few Paralympics. Except for the 2012 London Games when they were ousted in the quarter-finals, the top-ranked African sitting volleyball team has finished in the final four at every Paralympic game since 2000, clinching bronze in Athens and Rio. In Paris, they will be looking to get over the hump and secure a first Paralympic gold medal for Africa in the event.