He began Para cycling after his non-Para team disbanded in 2012. Initially, he was a junior national champion in cycling in Eritrea. After moving to the Netherlands, he joined a cycling club through his foster parents. In 2010, he met a former teammate who encouraged him to return to the sport.

He earned a contract with the non-Para Marco Polo Cycling Team. However, when the team disbanded due to lack of funds in 2012, he shifted his focus to Para cycling.

Memorable Achievements

One of his most memorable achievements is winning gold in the C4-5 road race at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. This victory remains a significant highlight of his career.

Awards and Recognition

He and wheelchair basketball player Carina De Rooij were flag bearers for the Netherlands at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. He also received the Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau in the Netherlands after winning a gold medal in the road race at the 2016 Paralympic Games.

Personal Background

Born in Eritrea, he was told in 2000 that his parents were in Europe and he needed to meet them. His parents had been caught up in the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia. They arranged for him to leave Eritrea if anything happened to them. He was driven through Ethiopia to Kenya, where he boarded a flight to Amsterdam.

He had refugee status in the Netherlands for eight years before receiving a residence permit after a general amnesty in 2008. He later learned that his father had died in an Ethiopian prison, but his mother had escaped back to Eritrea. He reunited with her 13 years after leaving his home country.

Ambassador Role

He serves as an ambassador for NLTraining, an education provider in the Netherlands. In this role, he speaks to refugees about his experiences and emphasises the importance of sport and education.

Future Plans

Looking ahead, he plans to continue competing at high levels and aims to inspire more people through his ambassadorial work with NLTraining.

This athlete's journey from Eritrea to becoming a celebrated cyclist in the Netherlands is both inspiring and impactful. His achievements on and off the track highlight his dedication and resilience.