Who is Funmi Oduwaiye? Meet Paralympics star who switched from basketball to discus and shot put

FUNMI Oduwaiye didn’t let complications following surgery get in the way of her ambitions to compete at the highest level.

Here we get to know the inspirational athlete, who is representing Great Britian at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

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Funmi Oduwaiye competing in the Women’s Discus Throw – F64 Final at the 2023 Para Athletics World Championships in Paris[/caption]

Who is Funmi Oduwaiye?

Oluwafunmilola Oduwaiye was born on January 15, 2003, in Cardiff, Wales.

She joined the Cardiff Met Archers basketball team at the age of 11, with her athletic prowess evident from an early age.

Funmi represented Wales at the Under-18 European Basketball Championships in Moldova in 2019, going on to be named as one of the players of the tournament.

However, a series of surgeries on her legs to correct genu valgum, a condition commonly known as knock knees, led her to pivot towards para-athletics in 2022.

One of the surgeries resulted in a damaged artery, causing paralysis of her right leg from the knee down.

While recovering from the operations, she first came across Paralympic sport via the 2020 Netflix documentary Rising Phoenix.

Funmi quickly made progress in throwing events, going on to compete at the World 2023 Para Athletics Championships in Paris, where she finished in 6th discus and 4th in shot put, both in the F64 category.

The 21-year-old is set to make her Paralympic debut at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. 

Funmi’s inspiring story is showcased in the Channel 4 documentary Path to Paris: Paralympic Dreams, which first aired at 4:55pm on August 25th, 2024.

The doc provides a unique glimpse into her journey, highlighting the incredible determination and resilience she’s shown in the face of adversity.

What sport does Funmi Oduwaiye compete in?

Funmi competed in non-disabled international basketball tournaments from the age of 16, representing her home nation of Wales at the 2019 European Championships in Moldova.

Following the surgeries on her legs, she moved over to para-athletics throwing events.

At the 2024 Games she will be showcasing her skills in the shot put and discus events, both in the F64 category.

This category is for athletes with moderately affected movement in one or both legs, or the absence of limbs.

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Funmi visiting the Royal Mint to see how Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes were honoured on a new 50p ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympic Games[/caption]

When will Funmi Oduwaiye compete in the Paralympics?

Funmi is part of the ParalympicsGB squad competing at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

All of the action will be broadcast live on Channel 4 in the UK.

The Games kick off on August 28, 2024, with the opening ceremony starting at 7pm, and the closing ceremony being held on September 8, 2024 from 8pm.

In the US, viewers can tune in on either Peacock or NBC Olympics platforms.

The Women’s Discus Throw – F64 kicks off at 9am on September 1, with the final scheduled to start at 09:47am on the same date.

While the Women’s Shot Put – F64 begins at 9am on September 5, with the final starting at 10:15am, just an hour and a quarter later.