# Rukayat Taiwo Suleimon Makes History as First Blind Female Sambo Champion Nigerian athlete overcomes vision loss to pioneer international success in martial arts. - **Source:** [BBC News – Africa](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/africa) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/1364abbb-3dcc-4922-9554-3d8e4e88324e ## Historic Gold Medal Win In April 2026, Nigerian athlete Rukayat Taiwo Suleimon became the first blind female sambist to secure a gold medal at a major international tournament. Competing in the 54kg category at the World Sambo Cup in Yerevan, Armenia, she defeated Uzbekistan’s Charos Ortikova, marking a significant milestone for visually impaired women in combat sports. ## Transition to Martial Arts Suleimon’s path to sambo, a martial art developed by the Soviet Red Army, followed a successful career in para-athletics. Since 2011, she earned over 20 national medals in sprinting, discus, and shot put. Her transition to judo and eventually sambo highlights her versatility and determination to excel across diverse, physically demanding athletic disciplines. ## Overcoming Personal Adversity Suleimon lost her sight in 2009 due to glaucoma following failed surgeries. The sudden loss of vision led to profound isolation and the loss of many friendships. However, attending a vocational training center in Lagos helped her rediscover her potential, eventually leading her to para-athletics and the international stage of competitive martial arts. ## Pioneering African Representation Suleimon’s victory was part of a broader breakthrough for African women in sambo. Alongside compatriot Elizabeth Aseso, she represented the continent at the Yerevan tournament. Their participation signifies a growing presence for Nigeria in the sport, following previous successes by male blind athletes like Samuel Oladele Kekere and Sodiq Ajibade in international championships. ## Systemic Funding Challenges Despite her global success, Suleimon reports a lack of adequate institutional support at home. Nigerian para-athletes frequently face limited funding, insufficient specialist training facilities, and high personal costs for transportation. These systemic barriers make maintaining a rigorous training schedule difficult, as athletes often struggle to afford the resources required for world-level competition. ## The Reality of Training Maintaining her status as a champion requires immense personal sacrifice. Suleimon often leaves her home at 5:30 am to reach training sessions across Lagos. The financial burden of travel and the lack of specialized infrastructure remain significant obstacles, yet she continues to pursue her goals with the support of her family. ## Recent Competitive Performance Following her World Cup success, Suleimon competed at the World Sambo Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Although she was defeated in the opening round by Moldova’s Ina Cernei, her participation marked another historic moment as blind women were included in the championship for the first time, further cementing her role as a trailblazer. ## Inspiring Future Generations Suleimon views her journey as a powerful message for other blind Africans. By proving that visual impairment does not define one’s worth or potential, she aims to inspire others to pursue their ambitions. Her coach, Olugbenga Adekahunsi, remains confident that with continued development and support, she will achieve even greater success globally. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cj5ynlyv4xrqo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._