One woman is poised to make history by becoming the first Brazilian athlete to contest both the Paralympic and Olympic Games in the same year.
In exactly three weeks, the Paralympic Games will take over Paris for 11 days of exhilarating competition.
Taking place between August 28 and September 8, the premiere event will include 23 sports and 549 events.
One competing athlete who has already gained a taste for the French crowds is Bruna Costa Alexandre, a 29-year-old Para table tennis player.
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The Brazilian sportswoman has previously earned bronze medals at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro and the delayed 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and now she’s on the hunt for gold.
Ahead of her challenge, Alexandre—who had her right arm amputated when she was six months old—used the Olympics as a warm-up.
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On Monday (August 5), she was part of the trio who went head-to-head against South Korea in the Round of 16 Women’s Team table tennis event.
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Unfortunately, Alexandre, alongside sisters Bruna and Giulia Takahashi lost 3-1 and subsequently exited the competition.
By briefly participating in the Summer Games, the two-time World bronze medalist became the first Brazilian athlete to contest both the Paralympic and Olympic Games.
And in a few weeks, she officially joins the elite pantheon of athletes who have participated in the Paralympics and Olympics in the same year.
These sportspeople include: South African swimmer Natalie du Toit and disgraced sprinter Oscar Pistorius, as well as archers Paola Fantato and Zahra Nemati, who hail from Italy and Iran, respectively.
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Alexandre also becomes the third table tennis player to make the list, following in the footsteps of Poland’s Natalie Partyka from and Melissa Tapper from Australia.
Speaking out on her history-making moment, the Ciriciúma-born star said: "It took many years of trying. I knew it would be very difficult to qualify for the Olympics, but I did it and today I am here fulfilling this great dream,” as per Inside the Games.
"I believe my presence here can open many doors. I hope that one day a person with a disability can compete against someone with both arms, and that becomes the norm worldwide.”
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"The legacy I want to leave behind is that people can do anything - whether you are missing an arm or a leg, it doesn't matter.”
On her upcoming Paralympic bout, Alexandre said she ‘hopes to win [her] first individual gold’ and demonstrate that inclusion is possible at all levels of sport.
Qualifications for para table tennis are due to take place at the 2024 Paris Paralympics from August 29.
Topics: Olympics, Sport, Health, World News
Ella Scott