Femita Ayanbeku

Started: She took up Para athletics in late 2015 in Boston, MA, United States of America. She had never previously ran using a prosthetic, having acquired her impairment following a car accident at age 11. (Facebook profile, 25 Feb 2021; enterprisenews.com, 01 Sep 2020; Athlete, 28 Sep 2017; gofundme.com, 30 Jul 2016; wbur.org, 07 Sep 2016) Reason: She played basketball in high school, but her non-sport prosthesis caused discomfort. She was introduced to Para athletics by US Para athlete Jerome Singleton after meeting him at an event held by the Challenged Athletes Foundation in late 2015. "I absolutely fell in love with running from the day I got my running leg, back in November 2015. I always tell people, when I run, I feel like I have two feet again. It felt so natural. I didn't want to take it off." (ossur.com, 15 Nov 2019; teamusa.org, 30 Sep 2016; adaptivesportsne.org, 20 Apr 2016; fierceforblackwomen.com, 05 Aug 2016) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (usparatf.org, 10 May 2024; forbes.com, 02 Aug 2024) Additional Info: MOTHERHOOD She gave birth to her daughter Nailah in February 2024. "I love being a mum, and I love being an athlete. I have to make sure I'm staying present and taking things one day at a time. I need to be 100 per cent committed to being a mum and being an athlete. I've heard so many times, 'Once you have kids, this becomes your life'. And yes, this is my life. But I don't like the idea that I have to give up being an athlete. Bringing [Nailah] to practice with me and having her with me all the time, that's a way of showing people, 'OK, I just had a baby, but that doesn't mean [motherhood] can't complement my training. I want her to be in this environment, I want her to see these things. In the Paralympic world, I think we're all very adaptable. I used to go to the track by myself, but now my daughter is with me and however that looks, I'm ready to figure it out and make it become a thing. It's my new normal." (usparatf.org, 10 May 2024) OTHER ACTIVITIES In 2015 she launched Limb-it-less Creations, a non-profit organisation that aims to raise awareness and provide support to people that have undergone amputations. "Growing up I never had any other amputees to talk to or be around. For me, personally, being this amputee girl, I just didn't want that to be the end of my story. Whatever is in your way, whatever barriers or adversities you're facing, it doesn't have to be the end of your story. I think socially when I first lost my leg I was very insecure. I did not wear shorts or skirts that showed my prosthesis until I was 18 years old. I was very scared about the reactions and stares from people that I would come across. I think psychologically it has made me stronger and more open-minded. One thing I love is when people ask me questions. I would rather someone come up to me and ask me a question than to just be stared at from across the room. It helps me understand what people are thinking when they look at me and it gives me a chance to inform people about me, my situation and the amputee community." (insidexpress.com, 31 Mar 2021; Facebook profile, 04 Mar 2021; enterprisenews.com, 01 Sep 2020; afrogirlfitness.com, 12 Oct 2017)