Riccardo Liguori Along with his incredible sporting performance, the 25-year-old Roman athlete won over everyone thanks to his genuineness and irony in post-race interviews
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Twenty-five years old, born in Rome to Sri Lankan parents, Rigivan Ganeshamoorthy has claimed the Paralympic gold in the F52 discus throw, setting not one, but three world records. Yet, his triumph goes far beyond his extraordinary athletic performance.
With his charm, shy smile, and spontaneity, he has won the hearts of many, becoming a symbol of inclusion.
“I couldn’t even touch my phone yesterday because it was so hot,” Ganeshamoorthy told an Italian newspaper, overwhelmed by the media attention and support. “The only negative part was some people writing insensitive things about my skin color. It’s a bit sad to hear this in 2024, but whatever, the ignorant ones are them; it just rolls off my back.”
A Champion on and off the field
Ganeshamoorthy has won twice: on the field, with an exceptional performance, and off it, with his spontaneity and message of inclusion. “What can I say? I dedicate this victory to my mother, my sister, to Rome, to the Tenth Municipality, to my neighbor who came to visit me and brought me the flag,” he told to the italian television RaiSport with a sincere, shy smile. “Friendship is the most beautiful thing there is, even more than a medal.”
His humor and simplicity have captivated everyone. “Yeah, he likes the world of sports, even if there are maybe a few too many disabled people,” he joked, sending greetings to “Alice, my girlfriend,” and dedicating his medal “to the entire Italian nation and to all the disabled people at home.”
Ganeshamoorthy’s story is even more remarkable considering he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome at just 18 years old. The disease affected his mobility, but not his determination. After trying wheelchair basketball and fencing, he discovered his passion for throwing events and quickly became a champion.
“Sports were a rebirth for me; they gave me the chance not to think about negative things,” he told La Stampa. “I’ve experienced certain things firsthand. When you’re hospitalized, you meet boys and girls with problems, but also their families. These are people who, unfortunately, don’t have friendships. Now, I know this is a harsh term, but we are often treated with disgust because there’s someone in a wheelchair or maybe someone with a catheter and a urine bag. We are like everyone else, but we are discriminated against for a disability we didn’t ask for. We just ended up with it, and now we live with it.”
A message of equality and inclusion
Ganeshamoorthy wants his victory to be a message of equality and inclusion. “We people with disabilities can be on equal footing with those without disabilities, and we should not be discriminated against because we can do the same things,” he told. “Of course, with a bit more difficulty. But we are on the same level.”
The Paralympic champion also emphasizes the importance of sports as a tool for rehabilitation and social inclusion. “Sport rehabilitates people. It fulfills you,” he declared. “That’s why I dedicated my gold medal to others. I was just the athlete, but behind me, there were many people who assisted me, helped me, and believed in me. And this victory is for them.”
