Malek Mohammad (pictured above and below) has his sights on the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park this summer, which would cap a remarkable journey, having been the victim of one of the many landmines left after the war Afghanistan fought with the Soviet Union from 1979 to 1989.

To this day a number of unexploded munitions remain in the country, which has been torn by war for the last decade after the September 11 bombings, which prompted a United States led invasion and overthrow of the Taliban regime.

Mohammad, 18, stepped on one such mine in 2005, and though he has only been able to compete at a pool in Kabul, he could still be invited to compete at London 2012.


"I hope they select me to participate in the London Games," he told Associated Press.

"So I am just praying.

"If I get a medal from the Olympics [sic] that will be good for my country, for my people.

"Disabled people will be proud of me, my family, everyone."


Mohammad was treated by the United States Government's development agency after the incident, and during his time in the States he learned to swim.

Afghanistan has never won a Paralympic medal, and at the last Games in Beijing only powerlifter Mohammad Fahim Rahimi represented the country.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]