From disability to medal owner: Visit the photo exhibition of Paralympic Athletes Heroes!!!!

Phnom Penh NEWS: Focusing on athletes' extraordinary abilities, a new exhibition titled "Beyond the Finish Line: Stories of Para Athletics Heroes" explores the activities of people with disabilities on behalf of Paralympic athletes.

The exhibition, organized by Hearts of Gold, aims to celebrate these outstanding individuals' commitment, resilience, and achievements while promoting social inclusion and awareness.

Ms. Yoneyama Haruka, Project Director at Hearts of Gold, said: "The project focuses on and shares the powerful stories of Paralympic athletes through photography and video.

The exhibition features photographs, documents, and interviews highlighting the lives of eight para-athletes selected from the Cambodian Paralympic Athletics Community.

One of the standout stories is that of Karini Wade Chantha, a two-time gold medalist who overcame her disability to become a national heroine.

Born into poverty after the civil war, Ms. Chantha experienced life-threatening danger at the age of just 13 when she lost her leg in a brick machine.

Despite significant challenges, including social prejudice and personal desperation, she found a new purpose through sports.

Ms. Chantha shared at the opening ceremony of the exhibition: "When I started para-athletics, it changed my life.

The journey of this actress is emblematic of the exhibition's core message: Success goes beyond the end line of competition.

The exhibition represents a joint effort, with contributions from Japan, Cambodia, Ghana, and Taiwan.

The Japanese non-profit organization Hearts of Gold has teamed up with the National Paralympic Committee of Cambodia, Ghanaian photographer Oduro Kofi, and Taiwanese Cloud Photo Studio to bring the stories of these athletes to life.

It's a movement to promote public awareness of the lives and achievements of Paralympic athletes, and to promote inclusivity and diversity on a global scale," Ms. Haruka explained.

She told Phnom Penh Post: "This exhibition wants to show the world that individuals with disabilities have unlimited potential.

The exhibition takes place from January 20 to February 15 at Workspace by Factory Phnom Penh, providing an opportunity to witness the great stories of Cambodian Paralympic athletes.