Zimbabwe has been competing at the Paralympic Games since the country became independent in 1980; it had previously competed as Rhodesia. Zimbabwe was absent from the Games in 1988 and 1992, returning in 1996 with a two-man delegation, and has competed at every edition of the Summer Paralympics since then. It has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics.Zimbabwe at the Paralympics, International Paralympic Committee
Zimbabweans have won a total of 2 gold medals, 9 silver, and 6 bronze. The country's most successful year, by far, was 1980, when Zimbabweans won 8 silver medals and 4 bronze - all but two won by Sandra James and Eileen Robertson, across events in several sports. Zimbabwe's first gold medal was won by Elliot Mujaji in 2000, in the 100m sprint (T46 category). Mujaji won Zimbabwe's second (and most recent) Paralympic gold medal in the same event four years later.Zimbabwe at the Paralympics, International Paralympic Committee Zimbabwe have since failed to win any medals after 2004.
The Zimbabwe National Paralympic Committee was only officially launched and registered in 2010. Prior to this, "the government provided financial aid during the Paralympic Games, [but] there was no co-ordinated mechanism to maintain athletes' momentum between the Games", and athletes "had to find their own sponsor, coach and manager who would finance the training, travelling and their participation at competitions"."About us: History" , Zimbabwe National Paralympic Committee
Medals by Summer Games
Medalists Medal Name Games Sport Event Sandra James 1980 Arnhem Athletics Women's club throw 1A Sandra James 1980 Arnhem Athletics Women's discus throw 1A Mary Dube 1980 Arnhem Athletics Women's javelin throw 3 Sandra James Eileen Robertson 1980 Arnhem Lawn bowls Women's pairs 1A-1B Sandra James 1980 Arnhem Swimming Women's 25m breaststroke 1A Eileen Robertson 1980 Arnhem Swimming Women's 25m breaststroke 1B Sandra James 1980 Arnhem Table tennis Women's singles 1A Eileen Robertson 1980 Arnhem Lawn bowls Women's singles 1A-1B Andrew James Scott 1980 Arnhem Swimming Men's 50m backstroke 3 Eileen Robertson 1980 Arnhem Swimming Women's 25m backstroke 1B Eddie van der Heiden 1984 Stoke Mandeville/New York Lawn bowls Men's singles A2/4 M. Ndlovu 1984 Stoke Mandeville/New York Athletics Women's discus throw 5 R. Mukuya 1984 Stoke Mandeville/New York Athletics Women's javelin throw 1B Elliot Mujaji 2000 Sydney Athletics Men's 100m T46 Elliot Mujaji 2004 Athens Athletics Men's 100m T46
See also Rhodesia at the Paralympics Zimbabwe at the Olympics
References