PHOTO: Afghani amputee dreams about Parolimpic games
The Afghan Malek Mohammad, who has no legs, comes to the pool in Kabul three times a week. Here he and other disabled swimmers prepare for the competition. The cherished dream is to get to the Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.
This opportunity can give him a victory at the World Swimming Championships, which will be held in autumn in Mexico City in the Paralympic Sports Festival.
Mohammad lost his legs when he was eleven. He stepped on the mine when he collected firewood in the outskirts of Kabul. The US government helped him. The teenager was treated in California and there they made him prostheses.
At the age of 16, Mohammad learned to swim. He says: he feels wonderful in the water. In this case, the competition itself or victory for him isn't so important. He only wants to help others with disabilities by example.
In Afghanistan, there is insufficient public funding for athletes with disabilities. There are also no conditions for full preparation for international competitions. However, Mohammad overcomes all obstacles and intensely trains. And in his spare time he works to save money for a trip to Mexico City.
Source: Al Arabiya