Dima Aktaa
{{Short description|Syrian parathlete}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Dima Aktaa
| native_name = ديما الأكتع
| native_name_lang = ar
| nationality = Syrian
| citizenship = British
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1994}}
| occupation = Runner
| sport = Athletics
| disability = Leg amputee
}}
Dima Aktaa ({{Langx|ar|ديما الأكتع}}; 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.
Biography
Aktaa was born in 1994 in Syria.{{Cite web |last=Wilkins |first=As told to Bridie |date=2022-10-25 |title='I was told I'd never walk again. Now I run every day' |url=https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/fitness/a41766329/dima-aktaa-paralympics-amputee/ |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=Women's Health |language=en-GB}} In August 2012 her home in Salqin, near Idlib, was bombed and the subsequent explosion caused a traumatic amputation of her leg.{{Cite web |title=BBC 100 Women 2022: Who is on the list this year? - BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-75af095e-21f7-41b0-9c5f-a96a5e0615c1 |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Blackledge |first=Richard |date=2021-09-08 |title=Beds runner who lost leg in Syria explosion sets sights on Paralympics |url=https://www.bedfordshirelive.co.uk/news/bedfordshire-news/flitwick-runner-who-lost-leg-5885539 |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=bedfordshirelive |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-06-23 |title=A Walk with Dima |url=https://refugeeweek.org.uk/a-walk-with-dima/ |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=Refugee Week |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Speare-Cole |first=Rebecca |date=2020-06-14 |title=Disabled Syrian refugee helps raise £70k to protect camps from virus |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/disabled-syria-refugee-coronavirus-help-refugees-campaign-a4467716.html |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}} The family left Syria for Lebanon, where they lived for a number of years, before coming to the United Kingdom as refugees in 2017. She and her family were staying in Manchester until they were settled in Bedfordshire in 2018. After receiving asylum and receiving a prosthetic leg, Aktaa took up running again, a sport she had been passionate about prior to losing her leg.{{Cite web |last=Hayel |first=Ibrahim |date=9 December 2022 |title=شابة سورية بقائمة النساء المئة الملهمات في العالم: تجربة قاسية وإنجاز غير مسبوق |url=https://orient-news.net/ar/news_show/200821 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211160049/https://orient-news.net/ar/news_show/200821 |archive-date=11 December 2022 |access-date=9 April 2023 |website=Orient Net |language=ar}}{{Cite web |last=Raja |first=Abdullah |date=11 December 2022 |title=ديما الأكتع.. لاجئة سورية مبتورة الساق على قائمة المؤثرات عالمياً |url=https://www.albayan.ae/world/arab/2022-12-11-1.4577520 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222150915/https://www.albayan.ae/world/arab/2022-12-11-1.4577520 |archive-date=22 December 2022 |access-date=9 April 2023 |website=Al-Bayan |language=ar-ae}}
During the COVID-19 pandemic she was part of a walking initiative that raised over £70,000 to support vaccination schemes in refugee camps. As of 2022 Aktaa was in training to compete in the 100m at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.
Recognition
Aktaa's contributions to sport and disability awareness were recognised by her inclusion on the BBC's 100 Women list in 2022, one of eight Arab women included that year.{{Cite web |last=Fatima |first=Sakina |date=2022-12-07 |title=9 Arab women on BBC's 100 most influential women list of 2022 |url=https://www.siasat.com/9-arab-women-on-bbcs-100-most-influential-women-list-of-2022-2474483/ |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=The Siasat Daily |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |author=Samaa Web Desk |date=2022-12-08 |title=Muslim women who made it to 'BBC 100 Women 2022' list |url=https://www.samaaenglish.tv/news/40022941 |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=Samaa |language=en}} In 2020 she was recognised as a member of 'The Lionhearts' - an alternative England football squad.{{Cite web |last=Association |first=The Football |title=Dema Aktaa welcomed into England's Lionhearts squad by Ellen White |url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2020/sep/28/dema-aktaa-announced-in-lionhearts-squad-280920 |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=www.thefa.com |language=en}} The pop singer Anne-Marie wrote a song about her life.
References
{{Authority control}}
External links
- The Guilty Feminist: [https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/260-being-extra-felicity-ward-special-guests-sol-escobar/id1068940771?i=1000527107539 Being Extra with Felicity Ward and special guests Sol Escobar and Dema Aktaa] (podcast)
- Anne-Marie - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_voF0suj0Oo
Beautiful [Official Video] ] - [https://www.instagram.com/dima_aktaa/?hl=en Dima Aktaa] - Instagram
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aktaa, Dima}}
Category:Syrian women activists