Ananias Shikongo

Ananias Shikongo is a Paralympian athlete from Namibia competing mainly in category T11 (totally blind) shortdistance events. He was born in 1986 and lives in Windhoek, Namibia. He shares a shack in the Katutura township with Paralympic silver medalist and school friend Johannes Nambala. Shikongo is Africa’s sprint champion in 100m and 200m in T11 (classification). He grew up in Okankolo Constituency, Oshikoto Region, in a village in proximity to the Angolan border. He lost his eyesight in both eyes in two separate incidents during his childhood. He went to a special School in Ongwediva and to Windhoek Technical High School. Despite, or because of this tragedy, Ananias managed to become a great sportsman, a model athlete and the fastest African (blind) sprinter. His character and his courage allowed him to overcome and to reach incredible heights.

Shikongo competed in the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. He won three medals, placing third in both the T11 100m and 400m sprints and coming first in the T11 200m. He won the 200m with a Paralympic Record time of 22.44 seconds. He is the third Namibian athlete to win a medal at a Paralympic competition.