Dima Aktaa

Dima Aktaa (born 1994) is a Syrian athlete and fundraiser, who was named one the BBC's 100 Women list in 2022. As of 2022 Aktaa was in training to compete in the 100m at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.

Dima Aktaa
Personal information
NationalitySyrian
CitizenshipBritish
Born1994
Syria
OccupationRunner
Sport
SportAthletics
DisabilityLeg amputee

Biography

Aktaa was born in 1994 in Syria.[1] In August 2012 her home in Salqin, near Idlib, was bombed and her leg was removed in the subsequent explosion.[2][3][4][5] The family left Syria for Lebanon, where they lived for a number of years, before coming the United Kingdom as refugees in 2017.[3] She and her family were settled in Bedfordshire in 2018.[1]

During the COVID-19 pandemic she was part of a walking initiative that raised over £70,000 to support vaccination schemes in refugee camps.[2][5] As of 2022 Aktaa was in training to compete in the 100m at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[2]

Recognition

Aktaa's contributions to sport and disability awareness were recognised by her inclusion on the BBC's 100 Women list in 2022.[2][6][7] In 2020 she was recognised as a member of 'The Lionhearts' - an alternative England football squad.[2][8] The pop singer Anne-Marie wrote a song about her life.[4][2]

References
  1. Wilkins, As told to Bridie (2022-10-25). "'I was told I'd never walk again. Now I run every day'". Women's Health. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  2. "BBC 100 Women 2022: Who is on the list this year? - BBC News". News. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  3. Blackledge, Richard (2021-09-08). "Beds runner who lost leg in Syria explosion sets sights on Paralympics". bedfordshirelive. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  4. "A Walk with Dima". Refugee Week. 2022-06-23. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  5. Speare-Cole, Rebecca (2020-06-14). "Disabled Syrian refugee helps raise £70k to protect camps from virus". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  6. Fatima, Sakina (2022-12-07). "9 Arab women on BBC's 100 most influential women list of 2022". The Siasat Daily. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  7. Samaa Web Desk (2022-12-08). "Muslim women who made it to 'BBC 100 Women 2022' list". Samaa. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  8. Association, The Football. "Dema Aktaa welcomed into England's Lionhearts squad by Ellen White". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
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