AFRICA | 18-year-old girl makes history as first African athlete to win a Paralympic medal in badminton, celebrates success.
An 18-year-old Nigerian girl named Mariam Eniola Bolaji made history as the first African athlete to win a Paralympic medal in badminton.
She secured a bronze medal in the Women’s Para-Badminton SL3 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, a groundbreaking achievement that marks a new chapter for Africa in the sport.
With this victory, Mariam became the first African, male or female, to earn a badminton medal at either the Olympics or Paralympics, according to the Paralympic Committee.
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Reflecting on her historic feat, Mariam shared her joy and determination. “I have been breaking records since 2021, and I will continue to do so for Africans in Para badminton,” she said.
Mariam’s journey to this achievement is deeply personal. Initially a Para table tennis player, she was inspired to switch to badminton by her late coach, Bello Rafiu Oyebanji, who tragically passed away in a traffic accident in 2021.
She credits him as a major influence in her career. “The medal is dedicated to him. He would be very, very happy and would be saying, ‘I’m proud of you,’” Mariam said.
She hopes her success will inspire others across Africa to embrace Para badminton and aim for excellence.
Sharing her excitement on X, Mariam expressed optimism for the future. “I look forward to the challenges ahead, approaching them with great determination and perseverance,” she said.
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