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The Paralympic Games or Paralympics, also known as the Games of the Paralympian, is a periodic series of international multisport events involving athletes with a range of disabilities.
Welsh parasports athlete Funmi Oduwaiye was on track for a basketball career until a routine knee surgery went wrong. In 2022, after encouragement from the late Anthony Hughes MBE, Performance Manager of Disability Sport Wales, she transitioned to Para-athletics, focusing on shot put and discus. The 21-year-old from Cardiff is now looking forward to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which begin on August 28th. Recently, she sat down with Xcellence magazine to discuss her career and future plans.
Tell us about your journey into the Para-sports?
It was an eventful journey. I had played basketball for about four or five years before the operation that changed everything. Afterward, I felt lost, wanting to return to basketball but knowing it wasn’t realistic. My physio suggested para sports and introduced me to Anthony Hughes, the Disability Sport Wales Performance Manager. Initially, I wanted to try different para sports, but Anthony insisted I focus on throwing. Though hesitant, I discovered a talent for it, and gradually, I built on that foundation to get where I am today.
The knee injury ended your career in basketball, how did you mentally cope with the aftermath?
It’s truly by God’s grace that I’m still here today, and I know I didn’t get here alone. Just the other day, I was talking with my brother about how blessed I am to be in this place. I’m doing nothing because I’ve surrendered control to God, and I believe that’s why things are falling into place. While I worked hard to reach this point in my career, the hardest part was when I was in the hospital, unable to speak or communicate properly. I asked my parents to read the Bible and Psalms to me, and I’d try to repeat whatever I could. It was truly God who helped me cope mentally and get out of that dark space.
How important were your friends & Family during this time?
Everyone around me has played a crucial role in my life, especially my family. My mum was my rock, staying by my side at the hospital every single day, talking to the nurses, keeping me company, and helping rebuild my self-esteem. My friends were incredible too, supporting me throughout the journey. They listened to my dreams of returning to basketball, offering advice on what was realistic and even taking me places I wanted to go, though I was meant to be driving by then. Their visits to the hospital were incredibly uplifting, even when I couldn’t always remember them, but my mum would tell me how emotional and happy I got when they came. These small gestures brought me joy and strength during that time. Even the friends who didn’t support me taught me valuable lessons about who I am and the kind of people I want around me.
Disability sports is extremely strong in Wales, who in the Welsh setup has inspired you?
A key role model for me in the Welsh setup is Aled Davies, a multi-Paralympic gold medallist and someone who competes in a similar classification as mine. He embodies where I aim to be, whether in a few games or even as soon as the upcoming Paris Games. Athlete-wise, he’s who I aspire to. Beyond him, my coach, my entire team, and everyone at Sport Wales, along with the world-class British Athletics program, continually inspire me to push towards my goals.
"My mum was the one who stayed with me all the time at the hospital like every single day, talking to the nurses and continually keeping me company and she helped building up my self-esteem".
Anthony Hughes was the driving force behind some of Wales most successful Para-athletes, how did his death in 2022 affect you and rest of the athletes?
I didn’t know Anthony Hughes for very long, but hearing of his passing was a real shock. It took all of us athletes by surprise. Those who knew him longer might have been more prepared, given the challenges he faced, but it was still difficult to accept. From the moment I met Anthony, he was making a difference in my life, supporting me in every way he could—whether it was helping me adjust to living with a disability or assisting with throwing events.
Anthony's support was extraordinary.
He went above and beyond, even buying my first throwing shoes, covering hotel expenses for competitions, and helping to fund my participation in events. His encouragement played a crucial role in my mental recovery and the kickstart of my career. It was heart
breaking to learn of his passing. He was such a big character and left a lasting impact on so many of us in the disability sports community in Wales. His absence is deeply felt.
Currently you do discus and shot put, how did you get into them two sports?
My physio suggested I try para sports, which led to my meeting with coach Josh Clark. When they both saw me, they immediately noticed my wingspan and how my disability affects me, and suggested I focus on throwing events first. While I was interested in trying other sports, they were adamant that I start with throwing. In high school, I competed in discus, shot put, and hammer, but since hammer isn’t included in disability sports, I focused on discus and shot put. Though I excel in shot put, I prefer discus, so I decided to pursue both.
In your debut at the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris in 2023, you finished fourth in the F64 shot put and sixth in the F64 discus. That's quite remarkable for someone who hasn't been involved in Para sports for very long. How did it make you feel afterward?
That was an amazing feeling, but when it comes to that competition, I don't talk about it much. For me, it was more about building character. I’m someone who feels content as long as I do my job well, but in this case, I didn’t feel I did. I believed I could’ve gotten a medal, so finishing fourth in my debut at the World Para Athletics Championship was bittersweet. It was okay, but I know I can perform better next time.
Photo credit: Rueben Mulenga
With the paralympics a few days away, how is training coming along?
Training is intense right now—I'm working out two to three times a day, every day except Sunday. It's a rigorous schedule, but having a solid team behind me makes it more manageable. It's tough, but I believe the hard work will pay off in the end
What gives you the motivation, desire, and determination to train?
I think it's something I've always done; it's like waking up early for school—something you do even if you don't enjoy it, until it becomes routine. When I was in school, I always looked forward to participating in sports, either during or after school. That was my main motivation for the day. Now that I pursue sports as a career, I have a strong desire to get up every morning and engage in the sports I enjoy. The determination to leave the house each morning to train has become a key part of my daily routine.
I have been checking on your social media and see you done modelling, how did you get into the industry?
At that time, I was trying to discover who I was, experimenting with different fashion styles. This was after my surgery, and I was out with my friends to watch a basketball tournament at Sophia Gardens a few years ago. Beforehand, we went to Nando’s in the city centre. I was minding my own business when, as soon as I sat down, I noticed a whole table of people staring at me. I thought, "Oh my goodness," but I was used to people staring due to who I am and where I live. However, this was a different kind of stare. Not in the mood to deal with it, I just sat down with my friends, ate our food, and then decided to leave.
The people at the other table also got up and approached us. They introduced themselves as being from a modelling agency in Cardiff, and they had just finished their scouting for the day. They mentioned that I had the exact look they were searching for and wanted to exchange contact details. So, while I was at Nando’s with my friends, I got scouted. The agent who approached me is now my agent, and I’ve been modelling ever since.
How did you manage the challenge of switching between two polar opposite careers?
It is quite challenging for me because I’m used to the team sport dynamic, which I prefer since I’m quite sociable and enjoy having fun while training—it helps me concentrate. Most of the time, I’m training by myself, which can get quite lonely. I only train with others when I’m throwing. Although I have friends in the sport, we all have different training schedules. Training alone is something I’m getting used to now. Previously, I hated training alone, but now I put on my headphones or listen to music, and it’s become quite therapeutic. Even though I’ve adjusted, I still prefer the dynamic of team sports over individual sports.
Who were your sporting heroes when you were growing up?
Obviously, I look up to legends like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, as well as athletes like Serena Williams and her sister Venus Williams. Seeing someone like them excel in their sports was truly inspiring. They were both role models and had a significant impact on me. Growing up, I didn’t watch a lot of sports because I preferred to participate in various sports myself.
Finally what advice would you give to young people who want to get involved in disability sports?
Take every opportunity you can, as you never know what life has in store. Even if it doesn’t lead to something as prestigious as the Paralympics, participating in sports can be rewarding in itself. It might get you out of the house every day or give you something fun to do with friends. Additionally, seeing you enjoy the sport might inspire others to take it up. You never know who you might meet or what opportunities might arise from it, and how those experiences might impact your life.
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