🇳🇦NamibiaSouthern Africa
Namibian Paralympic athletes participate in first blindfolded running competition
via The Namibian2 min read
Namibia's Paralympic athletes, including Ananias Shikongo, Johannes Nambala, and Lahya Ishitile, recently took part in the country's first blindfolded running competition in Windhoek. Organized by Sport On The Movement Foundation in collaboration with Business Financial Solutions, the event at Windhoek Independence Stadium challenged participants to run 100m blindfolded while guided by friends. Organizers noted that participants quickly realized the difficulty, gaining insight into the determination, skill, and trust required by blind athletes competing at a high level. The event raised funds and increased awareness for athletes with disabilities. Sport On The Movement Foundation chairperson Doufi Namalambo highlighted the athletes' stories as inspiring examples of overcoming unseen challenges. The foundation supports champions like Shikongo, Namibia's first male Paralympic gold medalist, and Ishitile, who won gold and set a Paralympic record in the 400m T11 at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Nambala is a two-time silver medalist from the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and a world champion. To celebrate these achievements, the foundation launched 'Unstoppable,' an international campaign to support Namibian para-athletes for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Blindfolded running is described as an intense physical and sensory exercise that builds trust between the runner and a sighted guide, who uses tethers or verbal commands. It eliminates visual distractions, forcing athle
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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