Zakia Khudadadi celebrates her historic win. GETTY IMAGES

Zakia Khudadadi claimed bronze in para-taekwondo Thursday at the Paris Paralympic Games, becoming the first-ever member of the Refugee Paralympic Team to win a medal. The Afghan hopes her achievement "sends a message for all the refugees in the world".

"I'm so happy and I'm so proud for this medal because after three years I have worked hard every morning, every afternoon," she said. "This is a woman's dream and now it's true, the dream is here."



France-based Khudadadi said that she felt she was competing in front of a home crowd. She has lived in the country for years after being smuggled out of Kabul shortly before the Tokyo Games, where became the first woman to represent Afghanistan since the Athens Paralympic Games in 2004 and also the first Afghan woman to compete in taekwondo at the Paralympics

However, after the Paralympics she could not return home, nor could she hope to represent her country again.

"Today, in my country, life is not easy for all the women and girls in Afghanistan because the Taliban is in Afghanistan," Khudadadi told the BBC World Service. "Everything is finished for all the women. Maybe for this medal all the women continue life and continue the fight with the Taliban. Maybe [one day] we are together with peace in my country.”

The 2023 European champion said living in France, and having access to professional facilities and support, has allowed her to fulfil her potential.

"In Afghanistan it was not very professional and there were many problems," she added. "Here in France everything is perfect, especially my coach, who is the best coach in the world for me.”

Zakia Khudadadi celebrates with coach Haby Niare. GETTY IMAGES
Zakia Khudadadi celebrates with coach Haby Niare. GETTY IMAGES

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said he was deeply moved by Khudadadi’s win. 

"Standing on the podium tonight, she represents 120 million people forcibly displaced worldwide. Zakia is a role model for us all. Despite the challenges she has faced, she has become a Paralympic medallist achieving the highest pinnacle of sporting success. The night is hers!” Grandi said. 

This is the third time the Refugee Paralympic Team is competing at the Paralympics after debuting in Rio 2016. The first team was comprised of two refugee athletes which grew to six for Tokyo 2020 and in Paris there are eight refugee athletes and two guide runners who are competing in six of the 22 sports; para-athletics, para-powerlifting, para-table tennis, para-taekwondo, para-triathlon, and wheelchair fencing.