Paris 2024: Idrissa Keita’s fairytale journey to Paralympic taekwondo
From begging on the streets to competing at Paris 2024, Senegal’s Keita has shown the world his fighting spirit 31 Aug 2024
Beneath the Grand Palais dome at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Senegalese Para taekwondo fighter Idrissa Keita proved that underdogs can be dangerous.
The 21-year-old made his Paralympic debut in the men’s K44 +80kg on Day 3 of the Games against a more experienced opponent in Turkiye’s Mehmet Sami Sarac.
Sarac, 28, has been competing at international tournaments for more than a decade and has a string of world titles whereas Keita started the sport less than a year ago.
Para taekwondo matches are a one-round contest lasting five minutes.
Fighters don protective equipment and wear special sensor socks which register when a point is scored by hitting their opponent's torso.
Competitors score points by hitting their opponent’s torso - two points for a regular kick, three points for a turning kick and four points for a spinning kick. But head kicks are not allowed.
Keita bounded out onto the arena full of confidence, pumping his arm in the air.
He towered over his opponent and was the first on the scoreboard in the tightly matched contest.
At the end of five minutes, the scores were level 4-4.
The bout was forced into a golden round – where the first opponent to score two points in 60 seconds wins.
Keita triumphed 6-4 and kissed the arena floor before hugging his team officials.
“I feel very, very happy,” he told the IPC, after advancing to the next round.
Keita faced Great Britain’s Matt Bush in the quarter final, in a match that was always going to be a tough ask for the rookie.
Although Keita was first to score, Bush soon warmed up and drew even 4-4.
In the final minute Bush had a spree of points and Keita was penalised for some Gam-jeoms. The match ended 16-4 in favour of the Welsh fighter, but the experience was still a personal triumph for Keita.
Cinderella man
“Our economic condition had deteriorated - I had to leave school and look for work to help my mother,” Keita said.
Life was tough for the youngster, who has a right-hand impairment, and at times was forced to beg for food.
In his free time, he would go for walks at the Parcelles Assainies beach and watch videos of taekwondo fights
A chance encounter with Senegal’s national Para taekwondo coach Maitre Abdoulaye Ndiaye at the beach would be life changing.
“He asked me to join Para taekwondo after knowing my interest in the sport,” Keita said.
“I started training right away at a club - I was determined to be part of the national team, after learning that the Paralympic Games could change my life forever and allow me to support my family.”
Keita underwent intensive training for a few months and then blitzed the field to win gold in the K44 men’s +80kg at the Africa qualification event in Dakar, Senegal.
“Everything is possible if you believe in yourself – you can start from nothing and achieve your goals,” he said.
