:Abbas Karimi

{{Infobox swimmer

| name = Abbas Karimi

| image =

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| full_name = Mohammad Abbas Karimi

| nationality =

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1997}}

| birth_place = Kabul, Afghanistan

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| strokes = {{flatlist|

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| classification = S5

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| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | Refugee Team}}

{{Medal|Country|the {{USA}}}}

}}

Mohammad Abbas Karimi ({{Langx|prs|محمد عباس کریمی}}; born 1997) is a swimmer, who came second in the S5 50 meter butterfly event at the 2017 World Para Swimming Championships, making him the first refugee athlete to win a medal at that competition. He came eighth in the 50 meter butterfly S5 event for the Refugee Paralympic Team at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.

In 2021, Karimi obtained US citizenship and started to compete for the USA team. He was part of the US team that won the medley relay event at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships. He has won national championship events in Afghanistan, Turkey and the US. Karimi competed for the US team at the 2024 Summer Paralympics, and was part of the US team that came second in the Mixed 4×50 m freestyle relay 20 pts event.

Personal life

Karimi was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and had no arms from birth.{{cite magazine| url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/sports-news-afghanistans-killing-fields-and-story-of-three-bravehearts-who-escaped-the-dreaded-taliban/391678| title=Afghanistan's Killing Fields And Story Of Three Bravehearts Who Escaped The Dreaded Taliban| magazine=Outlook| date=August 16, 2021| accessdate=August 16, 2021| archive-date=August 16, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816125829/https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/sports-news-afghanistans-killing-fields-and-story-of-three-bravehearts-who-escaped-the-dreaded-taliban/391678| url-status=live}}{{cite web| url=https://www.paralympic.org/feature/refugee-para-swimmer-abbas-karimi-driven-prove-lesson-tokyo-2020| title=Refugee Para swimmer Abbas Karimi driven to prove a lesson at Tokyo 2020| publisher=International Paralympic Committee| date=May 12, 2021| accessdate=August 16, 2021| archive-date=August 16, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816163302/https://www.paralympic.org/feature/refugee-para-swimmer-abbas-karimi-driven-prove-lesson-tokyo-2020| url-status=live}} His family is of Hazara descent, and his father died in 2019. One of his brothers lives in Australia, and Karimi did not see him from 2013 until 2021.{{cite web| url=https://www.usms.org/fitness-and-training/articles-and-videos/articles/usms-member-abbas-karimi-goes-from-refugee-camps-to-paralympics| title=USMS Member Abbas Karimi Goes From Refugee Camps to Paralympics| publisher=U.S. Masters Swimming| date=June 14, 2022| accessdate=June 16, 2022}} After the 2021 Taliban offensive, Karimi's family relocated from Afghanistan to Pakistan.

At the age of 16, Karimi fled Afghanistan, to escape the Taliban. In 2013, he arrived at a refugee camp in Turkey, having traveled through Iran and the Zagros Mountains. He lived in four different refugee camps in Turkey. In 2016, Karimi moved to Portland, Oregon, US, after being assisted by an American teacher and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with his documentation for resettlement in the US. In 2019, he moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 2022, Karimi became a naturalized American citizen.{{cite web| url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/madeira-2022-marks-world-championships-debut-tokyo-2020-champions| title=Madeira 2022 marks World Championships debut of Tokyo 2020 champions| publisher=International Paralympic Committee| date=June 11, 2022| accessdate=June 13, 2022}}

Career

At the age of 12, Karimi took up kickboxing. Aged 13, he took up swimming. His first competitive competition was an Afghan national championships, which he won. Whilst in Turkey, he won two national championships, and a total of 15 medals. He was unable to participate in international tournaments whilst in Turkish refugee camps, as he didn't have the correct documentation to travel.

At the 2017 World Para Swimming Championships, Karimi won a silver medal in the S5 50 meter butterfly event.{{cite web| url=https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/07/12/abbas-karimi-paralympic-tokyo| title=Swimmer Abbas Karimi Reflects On Representing Refugees At The Paralympics In Tokyo| publisher=WBUR-FM| date=July 12, 2021| accessdate=August 16, 2021| archive-date=August 16, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816163258/https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/07/12/abbas-karimi-paralympic-tokyo| url-status=live}} He was the first refugee athlete to win a medal at a World Para Swimming Championships.{{cite web| url=https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/paralympic-refugee-team-led-world-medalist-karimi-aims-spread-message-hope-tokyo| title=Paralympic Refugee Team, led by world medalist Karimi, aims to spread 'message of hope' in Tokyo| publisher=NBC| date=June 30, 2021| accessdate=August 16, 2021| archive-date=July 24, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724030701/https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/paralympic-refugee-team-led-world-medalist-karimi-aims-spread-message-hope-tokyo| url-status=live}} At the Championships, he also finished sixth in the S5 backstroke event.{{cite web| url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/tokyo-paralympics-preview-para-swimming-day-6| title=Tokyo Paralympics preview: Para swimming day 6| publisher=International Paralympic Committee| date=August 15, 2021| accessdate=August 16, 2021| archive-date=August 15, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815101147/https://www.paralympic.org/news/tokyo-paralympics-preview-para-swimming-day-6| url-status=live}} In 2018, he won the 50 meter freestyle event at the U.S. Paralympics Swimming Para National Championships.{{cite news| url=https://www.khaama.com/afghanistans-abbas-karimi-wins-gold-medal-in-para-swimming-nationals-02934/| title=Afghanistan's Abbas Karimi wins gold medal in Para Swimming Nationals| work=Khaama Press| date=December 16, 2018| accessdate=August 16, 2021| archive-date=August 15, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815195303/https://www.khaama.com/afghanistans-abbas-karimi-wins-gold-medal-in-para-swimming-nationals-02934/| url-status=live}} At the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, he came sixth in the 50 meter butterfly event. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was unable to swim for several months, as all swimming pools were closed.

In 2021, Karimi competed in the US Paralympic Trials in the 50 meter butterfly, backstroke and freestyle events.{{cite magazine| url=https://swimswam.com/ipc-announces-refugee-paralympic-team-for-tokyo-2020/| title=IPC ANNOUNCES REFUGEE PARALYMPIC TEAM FOR TOKYO 2020| magazine=SwimSwam| date=July 1, 2021| accessdate=August 16, 2021| archive-date=August 16, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816163839/https://swimswam.com/ipc-announces-refugee-paralympic-team-for-tokyo-2020/| url-status=live}} In April 2021, he won a World Para Swimming Series S5 50 meter butterfly event in Texas, US.{{cite news| url=https://www.khaama.com/afghan-born-swimmer-wins-silver-at-world-para-swimming-series-6546333/| title=Afghan-born swimmer wins silver at World Para Swimming Series| work=Khaama Press| date=April 18, 2021| accessdate=August 16, 2021| archive-date=August 16, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816083133/https://www.khaama.com/afghan-born-swimmer-wins-silver-at-world-para-swimming-series-6546333/| url-status=live}} In June, he was included in the Refugee Paralympic Team for the delayed 2020 Summer Paralympics. Karimi and Alia Issa were the Refugee Paralympic Team's flag bearers at the Games' opening ceremony.{{cite news| url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1111985/issa-karimi-tokyo-2020-paralympics| title=Issa and Karimi named Tokyo 2020 flagbearers for Refugee Paralympic Team| work=Inside the Games| date=August 23, 2021| accessdate=August 23, 2021| archive-date=August 23, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823163016/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1111985/issa-karimi-tokyo-2020-paralympics| url-status=live}} He competed in the 50 meter butterfly S5 event,{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/22/your-guide-to-all-the-best-action-at-the-tokyo-2020-paralympics| title=Your guide to all the best action at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics| work=The Guardian| date=August 22, 2021| accessdate=August 22, 2021| archive-date=August 22, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822081025/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/22/your-guide-to-all-the-best-action-at-the-tokyo-2020-paralympics| url-status=live}} where he qualified for the final,{{cite news| url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/sports/sports-news/refugee-swimmer-abbas-karimi-aims-for-historic-paralympic-medal-afghan-refugee-swimmer-abbas-karimi-1.5948194| title=Refugee swimmer Abbas Karimi aims for historic Paralympic medal| work=Mathrubhumi| date=August 27, 2021| accessdate=August 27, 2021| archive-date=August 27, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827093225/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/sports/sports-news/refugee-swimmer-abbas-karimi-aims-for-historic-paralympic-medal-afghan-refugee-swimmer-abbas-karimi-1.5948194| url-status=live}} and finished eighth overall.{{cite web| url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/swimming/results-men-s-50m-butterfly-s5-fnl-000100-.htm| title=Swimming - Final Results| publisher=Olympics.com| date=August 27, 2021| accessdate=August 27, 2021| archive-date=August 27, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827100349/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/swimming/results-men-s-50m-butterfly-s5-fnl-000100-.htm| url-status=live}} He also competed in the 50 meter backstroke S5 event, where he finished last in his heat.{{cite web| url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/swimming/results-men-s-50m-backstroke-s5-heat-000100-.htm| title=Swimming - Heat 1 Results| publisher=Olympics.com| date=August 30, 2021| accessdate=September 3, 2021}} Karimi won the 2021 USMS Long Course National Championship 200 meter backstroke and 200 meter butterfly events. In 2022, he won the 50 meters butterfly event at the Indianapolis World Series.

At the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships, Karimi competed for the US team. He finished ninth in the heats of the 50 meter freestyle event.{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/static/info/resSWCH22/pdf/SWCH22/SW/SWCH22_SW_C74A_SWM105900.pdf |title=Men's 50m Freestyle S5 Heats Summary|website=paralympic.org |date=June 12, 2022 |access-date=June 12, 2022 }} He also finished fourth overall in the 50 meter backstroke{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/static/info/resSWCH22/pdf/SWCH22/SW/SWCH22_SW_C74A_SWM405100.pdf |title=Men's 50m backstroke S6 Finals |website=paralympic.org |date=June 13, 2022 |access-date=June 13, 2022}} and 50 meter butterfly events.{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/static/info/resSWCH22/pdf/SWCH22/SW/SWCH22_SW_C74A_SWM259100.pdf |title=Men's 50m Butterfly S5 Finals |website=paralympic.org |date=June 14, 2022 |access-date=June 14, 2022}} He was part of the US team that won the medley relay in a world record time, alongside Elizabeth Marks, Rudy Garcia-Tolson and Leanne Smith.{{cite web| url=https://swimswam.com/us-breaks-4x50-mixed-medley-relay-world-record-on-day-three-of-para-worlds/| title=US BREAKS 4×50 MIXED MEDLEY RELAY WORLD RECORD ON DAY THREE OF PARA WORLDS| publisher=SwimSwam| date=June 14, 2022| accessdate=June 16, 2022}} He finished third in the 50 metre freestyle S5 event at the 2023 Parapan American Games.{{cite web|url=https://wrs-panam2023-resources.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/para-santiago/reports/SWMM50MFR---05020-----FNL-000100--.C73A1_1_0.pdf|title=Swimming - Men's 50 metre freestyle S5 - final results|accessdate=January 5, 2024}}

Karimi was selected for the US team for the 2024 Summer Paralympics.{{cite web| url=https://www.usparaswimming.org/news/2024/june/30/u-s-paralympics-swimming-roster-announced-for-2024-paralympic-games|title=U.S. Paralympics Swimming Roster Announced for 2024 Paralympic Games|publisher=US Paralympics Swimming|date=June 30, 2024| access-date=July 1, 2024}} He was part of the American team who finished second in the mixed 4×50 m freestyle relay 20 pts.{{cite news| url=https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/paris-paralympics-aug-30-recap-highlights-world-records-fall-us-claims-first-gold-medal| title=Paris Paralympics Aug. 30 recap, highlights: World records fall, U.S. claims first gold medal| work=NBC| date=August 30, 2024| accessdate=September 2, 2024}}