*You can watch this episode of Flame Bearers: UNEDITED on YouTube via the Flame Bearers channel if you would like to tune in with visuals*
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“Never give up. Any opportunity can come up, and you need to grasp it.”
This mantra fuels Husnah Kukundakwe, a 17-year-old, 2x Paralympian from Uganda. In a culture where “most people like me, who are born with a disability, are seen as curses to the family...some are just killed right on the spot,” Husnah has defied every expectation.
She made history as the first Ugandan swimmer to qualify for the Paralympics on merit and became the youngest athlete across all sports at the Tokyo Paralympics. She continues to smash African records and is ranked among the top 10 swimmers in Uganda (including able-bodied athletes). That said, her journey hasn’t been without setbacks. “I was swapped out of a swim race as a kid because I wasn’t seen as good enough—but I came back to prove them all wrong,” she shares. And prove them wrong she did—sweeping the medals against able-bodied athletes. For Husnah, swimming is more than a sport; it’s a source of strength and self-discovery. “It helped me stop hiding my hand and gave me the confidence to embrace who I am.”
Now, Husnah is determined to create opportunities for others. When not competing, she's working to launch the Husnah Kukundakwe Disability Sports Foundation, aimed at supporting young athletes with disabilities in Uganda. “I wouldn’t want anyone to lose hope because of something like finances,” she explains. “Everyone deserves a chance to try.”
In this episode, Husnah shares her record-breaking achievements, her experiences challenging cultural misconceptions about disability, and her bold vision for Uganda’s para-sports future. She also offers inspiring advice: “Ignore the negativity, believe in yourself, and find something you love that makes you feel free.”
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Flame Bearers: UNEDITED, a new video and podcast series celebrates the journeys of elite women athletes from around the world at all phases of their journeys: seeking their first international qualifications, at the pinnacle of their careers, and after retirement. In this largely UNEDITED series, we'll meet more athletes than ever before, all at various stages of their paths. This series is different not only because we're broadening who we're featuring, but how we're doing so. In the spirit of bringing you MORE STORIES, the tradeoff is fewer bells + whistles (i.e. animations & fancy sound effects than we normally include in our productions). We think it's worth the trade off so we can elevate more women doing incredible work -- we'd love to hear your thoughts.
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Flame Bearers is a multi media movement, illuminating the unsung stories of elite women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events and have worked with over 250 Olympians and Paralympians from 55 countries and counting.
For more videos about elite women athletes, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► / @flamebearers
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