Abbas Karimi

Mohammad Abbas Karimi (Dari: محمد عباس کریمی; born 1997)[1] is a swimmer, who came second in the S5 50 meter butterfly event at the 2017 World Para Swimming Championships, making him the first refugee athlete to win a medal at that competition.

He was part of the US team that won the medley relay event at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships.

[2] In 2016, Karimi moved to Portland, Oregon, US, after being assisted by an American teacher and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with his documentation for resettlement in the US.

[3] He was unable to participate in international tournaments whilst in Turkish refugee camps, as he didn't have the correct documentation to travel.

[2] At the 2017 World Para Swimming Championships, Karimi won a silver medal in the S5 50 meter butterfly event.

[9] In April 2021, he won a World Para Swimming Series S5 50 meter butterfly event in Texas, US.

[2][9] Karimi and Alia Issa were the Refugee Paralympic Team's flag bearers at the Games' opening ceremony.

[18] He was part of the US team that won the medley relay in a world record time, alongside Elizabeth Marks, Rudy Garcia-Tolson and Leanne Smith.