Refugee Abbas Karimi's unstoppable journey to Paris. GETTY IMAGES

At just 16, Abbas Karimi fled Afghanistan, driven by a dream to become a Paralympic medallist. His journey to safety in Turkiye was treacherous, involving a three-day trek through Iran and the Zagros Mountains, where he faced border police, wild dogs, and extreme conditions. 

Though Karimi's determination was forged long before his escape. Born without arms in Kabul, Karimi endured constant bullying. At 12, he took up kickboxing to defend himself, but it was swimming that changed his life. After his brother built a 25-meter pool, Karimi, with a lifejacket, took his first dip. "When I started swimming, I saw a path that (could lead to) a brighter future," he told Olympics.com.

He soon ditched the lifejacket, mastering strokes on his own and winning the Afghan national championship. Despite his talent, Karimi's family believed his disability would hold him back, encouraging marriage for his care or a role in the mosque. Though Karimi, who manages daily tasks and even drives with his feet, had bigger ambitions. 

"I just wanted to get out of that world and prove them wrong," he shared with Paralympic.org. Safety concerns also fueled his departure. "There were a lot of bombs exploding in Kabul... I could have been killed at any time if I stayed."

After reaching Turkiye, Karimi lived in refugee camps from 2013 to 2016, yet never stopped swimming, training daily and winning 15 medals, including two Turkish national titles. In 2016, with the help of the UNHCR and Mike Ives, a retired teacher from the US, Karimi resettled in Portland, Oregon, resuming his training for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. He competed in two world championships as a refugee athlete, winning a silver medal in the 50m butterfly S5 in 2017.





Karimi was chosen to represent the Refugee Paralympic Team at Tokyo 2020, competing in the 50m butterfly S5 and 50m backstroke S5, where he reached the final in the former. In 2021, Karimi became a US citizen and won his first world title with the US 4x50m medley relay team at the 2022 World Championships.

Two years later, he was selected for Team USA at Paris 2024, and on August 30th, he secured a silver medal in the 4x50m freestyle 20pts final. "It feels very special. It's the happiest moment of my life," Karimi told Olympics.com. "I fulfilled my legacy... I’ve wanted this for 12 years, and finally I made it happen."

Despite his success with Team USA, Karimi remains a strong advocate for the Refugee Paralympic Team. "It's very important that we have the Refugee Paralympic Team to give refugees and displaced people around the world hope," he says. "It depends on you. How hungry you are and how bad you want it."

Karimi is still aiming for more medals in the 50m freestyle S5 and 50m butterfly S5 events on September 4th and 5th. His advice for others pursuing their dreams: "Never give up. Never quit, no matter how impossible your dream or goals are. If it's a positive goal, keep fighting for it and you will be successful."