Paris 2024: Khudadadi wins first-ever medal for Refugee Paralympic Team

Just hours before her first bout at Paris 2024, Para taekwondo athlete Zakia Khudadadi told her coach that she would become a Paralympic medallist. She just did that, earning a bronze and becoming the first-ever Refugee Paralympic Team athlete to win a medal. 

“I’m so, so happy. For me, this medal is a dream. Today, I am in a dream,” said Khudadadi, who competed in the women’s K44 -47kg category. “This is for me, like life.” 

After securing a bronze medal at the Grand Palais, she made a lap around the mat while holding a flag with the Paralympic logo, which the Refugee Paralympic Team competes under. Her coach Haby Niare joined the celebration, as the crowd roared.  

“I’m so proud of this flag because today, I am a refugee. Today I am a refugee,” said Khudadadi, who currently lives and trains in France. “I worked hard these three years and there were problems that I had but that is in the past.” 

“Now is important. Now I am a bronze medallist.” 

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History-maker

Khudadadi competed on the first day of competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. While she lost to Ziyodakhon Isakova of Uzbekistan in the quarter finals, Khudadadi won her repechage bout against Nurcihan Ekinci of Turkiye, coming from behind for a 9-1 win. She secured her maiden medal after her opponent in the bronze medal bout pulled out.  

The French public were behind her every bout at the Grand Palais. When she took to the mat for her opening bout, the crowd exploded and did not stop cheering. People held posters saying “Zakia”, while some people held a large flag of the Agitos, the Paralympic logo that Refugee Paralympic Team athletes compete under. 

"For three years I’ve been a professional taekwondoka, and today I’ve won because behind me there is the French Republic, the refugee team, and my best coach, Haby Niare. We’ve all won today." 

Niare, who coaches Khudadadi in France, says it was a dream come true for the pair.  

“We did it. We are so happy. She deserves it. She worked hard every day. Every day, it’s not easy but today was the day. She did not have a choice today,” said Niare, a silver medallist in the women’s welterweight class at the Rio 2016 Olympics. 

“I said to her, ‘I want a medal’ and she said to me, ‘I will give you a medal today’. So we were on the same level today, and I’m so happy,” the coach said.

“This morning, she said to me, ‘I will be a medallist today.’ And I told her, ‘Really? If you say it, you have to do it’.” 

From Tokyo to Paris

Khudadadi took up Para sport when she was nine years old with a goal of competing at the Paralympic Games. She made her Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020 just days after a harrowing escape from her home country. 

She has said she associates Tokyo 2020 with sad memories. After she started a new life in France, there were challenges that she had to face.  

“When I became a refugee in Paris, I tried to become stronger than before. These two years were proof that we can do what we want, despite the difficulties,” Khudadadi said earlier in the tournament. 

But three years later, she competed at Paris 2024 with more confidence and she has only happy memories. "This is a formidable medal in my life. I'll never forget the date because I won the bronze medal.” 

"I want to give this medal to the whole world. I hope that one day there will be freedom in my country, for all the world, for all the girls, for all the women, for all the refugees in the world. And that all of us work towards that, for liberty and equality." 

Next stop: LA

After achieving her goal of becoming a Paralympic medallist, Khudadadi now sets her sights on winning a gold medal in Los Angeles in 2028.  

“I won the bronze medal today, and I am the first female Paralympic refugee, Afghan, winning a bronze medal. This, for me, is like life. I'm here to continue for a gold in Los Angeles." 

And Niare is also sure that this is possible.  

“She is not the same person she used to be. In four years, she will be a Paralympic champion, I am sure.”