HAS Yassine Ouhdadi (Morocco1994), they gave him nothing. Suffering from cataracts since birth, he has total blindness in his left eye, while in his right he has a visual reserve of 14%. A handicap that could have prevented him from being a sports star and made his daily life difficult, but which ended up turning it into an opportunity to become a reference in the Paralympic world.
Born in OuarzazateOuhdadi spent his early years glued to a football. His dream, like that of many others, was to become a footballer. Also during the emigration to Tarragona with his parents and siblings in search of a better life when he was only six years old. Perhaps at that time, no one could have imagined that he would become a double Paralympic athletics champion.
And the Spanish runner’s passion for tartan took a long time to arrive. His vision problems led him to give up the ball and he found in athletics the best tool for his sociocultural integration. When she was 18, a friend insisted that she try this discipline. It was the best decision of her life. Now she is a star.
Yassine Ouhdadi celebrates his victory in the 5,000 meters.
REUTERS
In 2019 he joined ONCE because they told him about the possibility of competing with the Spanish team and he didn’t hesitate to get started on the track. In a few months he had a colossal blast and with a second place in the world championship in Dubai that made him realize his enormous potential.
Since then, he has continued to achieve success: two medals in the European 2021 (silver in the 5,000 m and bronze in the 1,500 m), gold in the Tokyo Paralympic Games in the 5,000m and two other metals last summer at the World Championships in Paris (gold in the 5,000m and silver in the 1,500m).
The final blow
Ouhdadi wanted more, he has an insatiable hunger and he participated in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games with the intention of continuing to tell his story. And he succeeded brilliantly. At the first opportunity, in the 5,000 meters event, he gave a master class and won gold, destroying his rivals.
He had an impeccable career. Always in the top positions making himself known and giving the axe blow at the most delicate moment. There were 400 meters left and the forces were beginning to weaken. All except those of the Spanish-Moroccan athlete.
