Heroes and heroines find the energy to persevere when faced with obstacles. They do not let their circumstances define or determine the goals that they can attain in life.
The above explanation epitomizes Ugandan swimmer Husnah Kukundakwe who overcame all odds to make history at the delayed 2020 Paralympic Games staged in Tokyo, Japan.
At the tender age of 14, the star who was born with a malformation on her left hand and without the right arm became the youngest ever athlete to take part in a Paralympics Games on August 26, 2021.
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Kukundakwe registered a sixth place finish in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB8.
Despite not winning a medal at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, her presence at the games inspired thousands of people around the globe.
The athlete who idolizes Irish swimmer Ellen Keane described the experience of taking part in the Tokyo games as a memorable one.
“It has been an amazing experience performing at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. And being the youngest paralympian is a history made and will last a lifetime,” read her statement.
In a recent interview, Kukundakwe revealed that she started swimming for fun when she was just three years old.
The talkative swimmer added that her cousin’s swimming prowess is what influenced her to begin taking swimming lessons.
She did so at the age of five when her parents enrolled her at Sir Apollo Kaggwa learning institution in Uganda.
Husnah who trains with non-disabled athletes at Kampala-based Dolphins Swimming Club does a number of rituals before taking part in a competition.
According to her, she always performs a squat jump and swings her legs and arms before a race to psyche herself up.
Kukundakwe further disclosed that swimming helped her to overcome shyness and become a confident woman.
“I was bullied too, but I kept strong. It was only until I started para sport (swimming) that I gained self esteem. All those who bullied me stopped looking at me like before,” stated the girl who trains for thirteen hours every week.
Husnah advised members of society to join hands and help end the discrimination of People Living With Disabilities in the world.
“Parents, teachers and friends, let's fight bullying of the disabled. We are human too and we can be important to the community,” she ended.
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