A record 26 candidates have been nominated for election during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to fill six summer representative roles on the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletes’ Council. The IPC Athletes’ Council, composed of elected athlete representatives, serves as the voice of the Para athlete community to the IPC. This year, the 26 candidates, including 14 men and 12 women, represent 12 sports and four continents, with 22 being actively competing athletes.

For the first time in history, an athlete with an intellectual impairment has been nominated by Virtus Sport and shortlisted by IPC for the IPC Athletes’ Council election. Lenine Cunha is a Virtus Ambassador. His international career started in 2000 and since then he has won more than 220 international medals including a bronze at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and multiple gold medals from Virtus Global Games.

He is one of the rare athletes who has competed across all six editions of Virtus Global Games and at three Summer Paralympic Games, Sydney 2000, London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Talking about his intentions behind standing for the election and his aspirations if he gets selected in the IPC’s Athletes’ Council, Lenine said,

“The IPC’s Athletes’ Council holds a prestigious position as the voice of athletes with various impairments. However, there is currently no one representing athletes with intellectual impairment within the IPC’s Athletes’ Council — a significant gap that I hope to fill. With approximately 2-3% of the global population living with intellectual impairment, it is important that we have representation in the IPC’s Athletes’ Council.”

“I want to talk about the rights and interests of athletes with intellectual impairment, and ensuring our voices are heard, and valued within the international sporting community. I also want to show my leadership that I have learned because of sport, and to use my experiences to add ideas to IPC that is more inclusive of all disability groups, for a better future for next Paralympians.”

“As someone who has spent his entire life with this invisible impairment and made a career out of it, I understand the challenges and discrimination faced by athletes like me and I want to continue advocating for their needs on a global scale using the IPC’s Athletes’ Council platform. I also recognise the importance of ensuring that the concerns and aspirations of all athletes, including athletes with an intellectual impairment are heard and addressed within the Paralympic movement.”

“While the IPC has made significant efforts in raising awareness of various disabilities, there is still work to be done in making intellectual impairment more visible and promoting inclusive pathways for athletes like me. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with the IPC to achieve these goals, and to hopefully see more participation from current and new nations in the Paralympic movement.”

“Another topic I want to talk about is the difficulty that athletes and especially athletes with an intellectual impairment can often face during their transition from athletic careers to post-retirement life. I am experiencing this myself, and by joining the IPC, I want to develop resources and support systems that will help retiring athletes of all disability to manage this transition successfully.”

Lenine Cunha has been an extremely proactive Virtus Ambassador. He recently was selected by Virtus to become the flag bearer of the #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign launched by Virtus during the GG2023 anniversary week.

The Athletes’ Council acts as a liaison between athletes and decision-makers, significantly influencing the growth and development of Paralympic sports. The IPC Electoral Commission will oversee the election, ensuring adherence to the IPC Code of Ethics and Campaign Rules. The six newly elected members will be announced at the Closing Ceremony on 8 September. They will join the three winter representatives elected during the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, and appointed member Greg Polychronidis of Greece, and the IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair to complete the IPC Athletes’ Council.

The election will be held from 26 August to 5 September in PLY House, near the Main Dining Hall in the Paralympic Village, and in the Athlete Lounge at Chateauroux Village for Shooting Para sports athletes. Virtus urges all athletes competing at Paris 2024, especially athletes with intellectual impairment, to vote. If elected, Lenine Cunha will be the first athlete with an intellectual impairment to join the IPC Athletes’ Council, a historic moment for Lenine, for Virtus and for inclusion of millions of past, current and future athletes with an intellectual impairment around the world.

For more information, visit Paralympic.org/athletes-council. Read IPC’s announcement here.

Wada Natsuki, hailing from the vibrant city of Osaka, Japan, is not just a name but an inspiration for many. Living with her mother and elder brother, Natsuki’s journey into the world of table tennis is both heart-warming and empowering. Her mother stands as her pillar of support, cheering her on, comforting her during low moments, and celebrating her victories. 

 “She always cheers me on, in the house, during practice. When I’m feeling down, she comforts me, and when I win a game, she celebrates with me,” shares Natsuki. 

Despite her current success, Natsuki’s journey has not been without its challenges. Her intellectual impairment made her a target for mockery and discrimination. She recalls her difficult school years,  

“The teacher was very strict and I was scared. I was bullied and couldn’t go to school. When people found out I have intellectual impairment, they made fun of me, imitated my behaviour, and called me weird,” Natsuki told Virtus. 

Natsuki has come up with her own way of dealing with the difficulties she faces due to intellectual impairment. 

“I like to keep everything in order so that I know when I am doing what, but if anything in that order changes then I get upset and mad and I cannot do the things I was supposed to do.” 

Natsuki began playing table tennis only four years ago, initially as a part of her weight loss journey.

“I started sports when I started dieting to lose weight and then I started practising sports. I started with swimming first and then there was a table tennis place nearby so I started to play table tennis.”  

Wada Natsuki at Hangzhou 2022. Photo credit: Takamitsu Mifune

Different athletes with intellectual impairment face different hurdles. For Watsuki, the impairment made it difficult to deal with ‘unpredictability‘. She came up with her way of dealing with things such as keeping things very organised to reduce the element of surprise. However, table tennis presented a unique challenge for Natsuki as it is always unpredictable.

“I am getting used to the unpredictability during the match. However, when the court changes or the timetable changes before a match, there are times when I get upset, I get nervous and sometimes I cannot perform the way I was planning to and can’t keep calm.” 

Despite these challenges, Natsuki’s determination never wavered. 

Natsuki received her international eligibility with Virtus in September 2022 which opened doors for her at the international para-sports competitions. Natsuki teamed up with Yamamoto Shunta and won gold at the 2022 Virtus Oceania Asia Games and later won gold in Class 11 singles at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games.

Ranking fourth in the current ITTF world ranking, Natsuki rose quickly to fame which took her by surprise. Qualifying for the Paris 2024 Paralympics was a dream come true for Natsuki. 

“I expected to play for Japan but I never expected to go to the Paralympics and to win at the World Championship. At first, I could not feel or understand that I am actually going to Paris 2024, but as time is passing by, I am getting very excited to go to the Paris Paralympics. I am very weak physically so I am doing a lot of muscle training,” she stated. 

As she gears up for this prestigious event, her training regimen is intense, involving 2-3 hours of practice daily for 5-6 days a week. 

Natsuki remains humble about her achievements, never keeping count of her international medals. Each medal holds a special place in her heart. Her ultimate goal is clear and ambitious:  

“First of all, I want to win a gold medal at the Paris Paralympic Games, then I want to be No.1 in the world. And maybe after that, I want to set a winning streak record.” 

For young athletes with intellectual impairments, Natsuki offers a message of resilience and hope.  

“I think everyone can grow by simply changing the way you do things and the way you think. So don’t give up on anything.” 

Natsuki’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the unwavering support of loved ones. As she prepares for Paris 2024, her journey continues to inspire many, proving that with determination and support, no dream is too big. 

Join Virtus’ #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign in making Wada Natsuki’s journey Visible. 

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT? 

 Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments including intellectual disability, Down syndrome and autism. Having an intellectual impairment impacts how an athlete understands the rules of the sport, interacts with other players, and adjusts to different environments. They might find it difficult to manage reaction times, remember specific race or game strategies, retain focus for long period of time, or maintaining impulse control.  

Charles-Antoine Kouakou, a Paralympic athlete, is gearing up for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games with unwavering determination and a track record of success. His journey, marked by hard work and dedication, has seen him break records and win medals on the international stage. 

Residing in Paris, Charles comes from a supportive family consisting of his sister, Grace Kelly, his father, Marcel, and his mother, Sistine.

“My father, my mother, my sister, and everyone are proud of me,” he says, highlighting the strong support system that has been with him every step of the way. 

Fortunately,  Charles has faced minimal discrimination due to his intellectual impairment and autistic traits. Charles discovered his passion for athletics at the young age of fifteen years old.

“I started very young. I was 17 and 15 years old. Even in Saint-Denis, I ran and was told I was good at running,” he recalls.

This early encouragement led him to try various events, including the high jump, long jump, and 1000m. Charles received his international eligibility with Virtus in January 2017 which opened doors for him at the international para-sports competitions. He joined the French team the same year, marking a significant milestone in his athletic career. 

He has already won 30 international medals from various competitions including Virtus Global Games, regional games and his favourite medal, the gold from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Athletics has had a profound impact on Charles’s life, helping him grow both personally and socially. 

“I’ve done other sports, I’ve practised karate, judo, handball, table tennis, a little bit of everything. But I choose athletics over them all as I love it. Athletics has helped me in many different ways. For me, it allows me to go for a walk, eat with friends, buy in a store, go to Carrefour, go to a supermarket, buy a piece of clothing, he explains.

“I realized that I was in a bit of trouble and I was a little autistic. I was told that I had to progress in reading and so that’s how I progressed.”

The discipline and routine of training have also helped him manage his daily life and responsibilities. Charles trains almost seven times a week. His coach and the support from the French Federation of Adapted Sport and Virtus Sport have been crucial in his preparation for the Paralympic Games. 

Charles Antoine at the 2021 Virtus World Indoor Athletics Championship. Photo Credit: FFSA

With his sights set on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Charles is determined to win the gold medal. He acknowledges the competition, particularly from Brazilian athletes, but remains confident in his abilities. 

“I want to win another gold at Paris 2024. it will be quite a memory because it’s in France and I’ll be known by all Parisians, even in Saint-Denis itself, everywhere! If I become a Paralympic champion in Paris, I can meet Emmanuel Macron again.”

Looking to the future, Charles is considering a career that combines sports with another profession, emphasizing the importance of having a balanced life. 

Charles-Antoine Kouakou’s journey is a testament to resilience, hard work, and the power of a supportive community. As he prepares for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, his story serves as an inspiration to athletes everywhere, proving that with determination and support, anything is possible. 

Join Virtus’ #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign in making Charles-Antoine’s journey Visible. 

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT? 

Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments including intellectual disability, Down syndrome and autism. Having an intellectual impairment impacts how an athlete understands the rules of the sport, interacts with other players, and adjusts to different environments. They might find it difficult to manage reaction times, remember specific race or game strategies, retain focus for long period of time, or maintaining impulse control.  

At just eighteen years old, Chen Po-Yen is poised to shine on the global stage as he prepares for his Paralympic Games debut at the Paris 2024. Unlike his peers, this exceptional teenager secured his spot in Paris last year by clinching victory in the II1 Men’s Singles event at the fiercely competitive 2023 Virtus Global Games in Vichy. 

The Global Games 2023 served as the ultimate battleground for elite athletes like Yen, where skill, determination, and unwavering spirit were put to the test. Overcoming many of the ITTF’s top-ranked Class 11 opponents, Yen faced off against Makajew Maciej from Poland in the finals and secured his significant 3-0 victory (11-8, 11-8, 15-13) which secured him a place for Paris 2024.  

The ITTF’s fifth-world rank holder hails from Taiwan and draws strength and support from his close-knit family, including his devoted parents and older sister, who have been unwavering in their encouragement. 

Fortunately, Yen has never allowed his impairment to limit his ambitions, crediting his sister for igniting his passion for table tennis. 

“I developed an interest in sports because my sister used to play table tennis during her childhood. I developed an interest as I watched my sister play from the sidelines. I love table tennis because I think the posture of playing table tennis is quite cool.”   

Chen Po-Yen at GG2023 after winning II1 Single’s match (L) and flaunting his ticket to Paris 2024 (R). Photo credit: T.NGUYEN

Po-Yen received his international eligibility with Virtus in May 2022, which opened doors for him at the international elite para-sports competitions. Driven by a relentless work ethic, Yen dedicates long hours to training in the gym, honing his skills under the guidance of his coach, Wei Chun-Ta. Despite facing challenges in understanding certain tactics, Yen’s determination and perseverance have been unwavering, propelling him towards excellence. 

“Since Chen doesn’t have physical or visual impairments, his regular training is the same as mainstream athletes’, including immediate tactics and physical training. There are no significant differences. However, Po-Yen’s training requires a bit more repeated practice than usual athletes.” said Chen-Po’s coach, Wei Chun-Ta, who has been training him since 2019. 

 “Sometimes he may have some difficulties understanding certain immediate tactics, so he needs to repeatedly practice over and over again until he understands particular tactics,” he further added. 

 Yen acknowledges the pivotal role played by the Chinese Taipei Paralympic Committee (CTPC) and Virtus in his journey towards success.  

 “I wouldn’t be here today without the significant efforts of the CTPC and Virtus. While CTPC takes care of my daily needs and training, Virtus competitions provide us with an international stage, allowing us, athletes with intellectual impairment to showcase our talents.” 

 Dr. Mu, Ming-Chu, President of the Chinese Taipei Paralympic Committee, who was also the Head of the Delegation for Chinese Taipei at GG2023 was emotional and very excited to witness Yen’s victory at Vichy. 

 “I am very proud of this young boy who is just a high school student. Chen had no specialised training program to train himself but he did his best and achieved this extraordinary result. I am very happy and proud that he qualified for the Paralympic Games in Paris next year.” 

  Yen is looking forward to making his Paralympic debut at Paris 2024.  

 “I’m very happy to represent our country in Paris 2024. I will continue to work hard and bring glory to our country. For me, there are two most competitive players, one is the world’s top-ranked player from Belgium, Florian Von-Acker and one from South Korea, Kim Chang-Gi who could be my biggest rivals in Paris 2024. I’ll strive for the Paralympic Games medal for sure, and I hope I can set an example for young athletes with intellectual impairment.”  

Po-Yen has already etched his name in history, becoming the inaugural male table tennis player to qualify directly from the Virtus Global Games for the Paralympic Games. Additionally, he holds the distinction of being Taiwan’s first representative ever in the Class 11 category at the Paralympic Games. Po-Yen seized a gold in men’s singles and a silver in mixed doubles at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games 2023 too.

Join Virtus’ #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign in making Chen Po-Yen’s journey Visible. 

Watch the highlights of the Women’s II1 finals from GG2023. 

 View the Paris 2024 Para Table Tennis schedule. 

What is Intellectual Impairment? 

Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments including intellectual disability, Down syndrome and autism. Having an intellectual impairment impacts how an athlete understands the rules of the sport, interacts with other players, and adjusts to different environments. They might find it difficult to manage reaction times, remember specific race or game strategies, retain focus for long period of time, or maintaining impulse control. 

As the world gears up for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, all eyes are on Samuel Oliveira, a promising athlete hailing from São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo. On his way to making his Paralympic debut, Samuel’s journey to the global stage is a testament to resilience, determination, and unwavering support. 

“My mother and sister always motivated me in athletics and didn’t allow me to give up. They always motivated me in athletics and didn’t allow me to give up, always cheering They vibrated with my achievements and were by my side pushing me to improve more and more. ” Samuel recalls fondly, reflecting on the pivotal role his family played in nurturing his athletic aspirations.  

Growing up in Mauá, São Paulo, Samuel’s journey to athletic stardom came along with a lot of childhood struggles due to his impairment in school. 

“The school period certainly marked me a lot, I was very well known in the schools where I studied for my agitated behaviour, I had a lot of difficulties concentrating and school was not interesting to me, so I wanted to run and play with my classmates until I received the diagnosis I was labelled as a difficult and undisciplined student which earned me several complaints and many trips from my mother to the school board. At this time I was referred for treatment with psychologists.” It was during this time that Samuel received the diagnosis of an intellectual impairment.  

Shedding light on the challenges he faced, Samuel commented,   

“Intellectual impairment affects my life in many ways. I need more time to learn new things and to perform tasks, I also have difficulty understanding complicated information and remembering important things, I always try to take notes and ask for help from my family in some situations. In training, I often forgot my coach’s instructions, but he has always been understanding with me and teaches me clearly so that I can understand.” 

“Unfortunately, many people do not understand intellectual impairment, think it is laziness and sometimes even doubt our abilities. People must understand that we athletes with intellectual impairment also have our limitations and that being in sports is sometimes a great personal overcoming, it is where we can see that we are in fact capable,” he further added.  

Samuel was always motivated to play sports in childhood as he was tall and very energetic, he practised soccer, volleyball, swimming and basketball, but it was through his friend who was a discus thrower, that he got to know about athletics and fell in love with the sport.  

“Athletics is my great passion and challenging my limits brings me a sense of freedom and personal improvement. I can see my progress with each test and see how much I’m able to accomplish my goals. How much I can achieve my goals on the track and in life, is to show especially to myself that even though I have my limitations due to my impairment, I can fly higher and higher.“ 

Samuel received his international eligibility with Virtus in May 2019, which opened doors for him at the international para-sports competitions. Reflecting on his international success, Samuel recalls his first medal, gold in the Men’s II1 Triple jump at the 2019 Virtus Global Games in Brisbane with particular fondness.  

“It was my first international trip, and I never imagined representing my country in a global competition. It was there, at GG2019 that I realised that I could reach higher places and do something great.” 

Samuel Oliveira thrashing WR in T20 400m at Santiago 2023. Photo Credit: NPC Brazil

Samuel shattered the 400m WR at Santiago 2024 Parapan American Games, Santiago and mesmerised everyone. Samuel’s journey in athletics has been marked by perseverance and dedication. From battling injuries to overcoming the distance between his home and the track, Samuel’s determination knows no bounds.  

“Paris this year will be the fulfilment of a great dream, I hope to surpass my mark and bring this achievement to Brazil,” he shares. 

As Samuel prepares to take on the world’s best in Paris, his message to aspiring athletes is one of hope and resilience.  

“Never give up, even if you encounter challenges along the way, don’t stop, because one day you will make your dreams come true.” 

With each stride on the track, Samuel Oliveira embodies the spirit of determination and perseverance, inspiring generations of athletes to chase their dreams against all odds. As Paris beckons, Samuel stands as a beacon of hope, ready to leave a legacy of overcoming and motivation for future runners to follow.  

Join Virtus’ #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign in making Samuel’s journey Visible.

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT? 

Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments including intellectual disability, Down syndrome and autism. Having an intellectual impairment impacts how an athlete understands the rules of the sport, interacts with other players, and adjusts to different environments. They might find it difficult to manage reaction times, remember specific race or game strategies, retain focus for long period of time, or maintaining impulse control.