On the 29th, the 6th day of the Tokyo Paralympics, a swimmer who lost his right leg in an explosion to save a friend during the civil war participated as a member of the refugee team.

A 32-year-old from Syria, Ibrahim Al Hussein started swimming at the age of 5 due to the influence of his father who was a swimming coach and dreamed of participating in the Olympic Games, but in 2011 a democracy called "Arab Spring" When the Olympic movement spread to Syria and developed into a civil war, its fate changed drastically.



The following year, Al Hussein suffered a serious injury to his right knee when a bomb exploded while helping a friend who was shot.



Then, in 2014, he fled the war and crossed the Aegean Sea on a rubber boat for medical treatment and went into exile in Greece.



Al Hussein, who started swimming again, said about the time, "Many people said,'There is nothing that a refugee with a disability can do,' but I hope that if I work hard, I can achieve something. I look back.



As the word says, he served as the flag bearer of the refugee team that was formed for the first time at the previous Rio de Janeiro Games, and also participated in the Paralympic Games for the second time.



Al Hussein, who entered the qualifying for the 29 50-meter freestyle motor dysfunction class, bite to the end in the fast race development pulled by the world record player, and finished 8th in this group with a time of 30 seconds 27. was.



I didn't make it to the finals, but I'm always positive, saying, "Sports are what drives me and are an integral part of my life. I want all refugees to have the opportunity to play sports."



Al Hussein says that his friend who once saved his life in Syria now has three children, and that "he is happy is what makes me want to live."