A Florida State University audience got inspiration the evening of Monday, Oct. 21. from a Paralympic medal winner. Abbas Karimi won silver in the Men's Swimming Relay event in Paris earlier this year.
Karimi, a native of Afghanistan, was born with no arms. But he was determined to overcome his disability. After years of painful struggle, he achieved multiple medals in swimming events, ultimately representing the U.S.A. at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris where he won a silver medal in the men's 4x50 meter freestyle relay. He told the audience in Florida State's Moore Auditorium that everyone has untapped resources.
"We all have our challenges and struggles and obstacles. But then, as a human being, because we're so strong and powerful, we have to discover that and create a new version of ourselves and that's how we can overcome."
Karimi's talk was part of Disability Employment Awareness Month activities hosted by the University of Choice. That's a student-led advocacy group at F.S.U.
