AREZKI Hakim

20 Mar 1983
38
Male
B1
AZAZGA
 
Algeria

Events and Medals

Discipline Event Rank Medal
FB5 Football 5-a-side Men 8

Schedule

Change
Start Time Location Event Status
Aomi Urban Sports Park
JPN
Japan
4
FRA
France
0
Finished
Aomi Urban Sports Park
CHN
China
1
FRA
France
0
Finished
Aomi Urban Sports Park
FRA
France
0
BRA
Brazil
4
Finished
Aomi Urban Sports Park
FRA
France
2
THA
Thailand
3
Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

:
RankEventYearLocation
Paralympic Games
2Men2012London, GBR
World Championship
9Men2014Tokyo, JPN
15Men2018Madrid, ESP
European Championships
2Men2019Rome, ITA
4Men2017Berlin, GER
:
Playing the guitar. (allodocteurs.fr, 27 Feb 2020)
:
French
:
FC Cecifoot Precy sur Oise [France] since 2019/20
:
Toussaint Akpweh [national]
:
Defender
:
He took up the sport in about 2004 or 2005 in Paris, France. (sofoot.com, 26 Mar 2019)
:
He discovered the sport while attending the National Institute for Young Blind People in Paris, France. "That's where I did my reeducation, where I learned how to read in Braille. I stayed there for five years. I studied as a piano tuner and did my music studies. I also discovered the sport. There was only one training session per week. At the beginning I was disappointed because I thought I would have the same ability as before [losing his sight], but it was like I was learning everything for the second time. I had to find other references, to rely on my other senses. The sport helped me to build a new life because I recovered my passion for football. On the pitch I don't use my cane. I feel free. It also helped me to develop autonomy in my everyday life." (sofoot.com, 26 Mar 2019)
:
To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (hautsdefrance.fr, 21 Oct 2020)
:
Winning the 2009 European Championships in Nantes, France. (sofoot.com, 26 Mar 2019)
:
French footballer Zinedine Zidane. (sofoot.com, 26 Mar 2019)
:
In 2013 he was named Knight of the National Order of Merit by the French government. (sofoot.com, 26 Mar 2019)

He was named Best Player of the 2010 French Cup. (france-paralympique.fr, 24 Sep 2019)

General Interest

Classification
B1 (ibsasport.org, 22 Dec 2019)

Type of Impairment
Vision impairment (sofoot.com, 26 Mar 2019)

Origin of Impairment
Acquired (sofoot.com, 26 Mar 2019)

Impairment Details
He lost his sight when he was shot by government forces during a demonstration in Algeria in 2001. The bullet damaged his optical nerve. (hautsdefrance.fr, 21 Oct 2020; allodocteurs.fr, 27 Feb 2020; sofoot.com, 26 Mar 2019)

General
MOVE TO FRANCE
Born in Algeria, he relocated to France after he was shot during a protest in 2001. One of the bullets damaged his optical nerve, while another hit his right ankle. He tried to get treatment at three different hospitals before his father, who already lived in France, insisted he move to Europe. He landed in France, still with the bullet in his head, and was rushed to hospital. "I have two homelands. Algeria brought me into the world, but France saved my life. I wouldn't know which one of them I would choose. I tried to do something in Algeria with players who wanted to create a team. The sport doesn't exist over there with the same rules that it's played everywhere else. Still there are young blind people who kick the ball. It's complicated to create something when you are not there." (sofoot.com, 26 Mar 2019; allodocteurs.fr, 27 Feb 2020; lemag.seinesaintdenis.fr, 31 Jan 2020; lematindalgerie.com, 21 Mar 2019)

OTHER ROLES
In June 2018 he became president of the Para sport committee at the Seine-Saint Denis department in France. "The link is that the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris will be hosted here in Seine-Saint Denis. I'm expecting improvements in terms of equipment, accessible transportation, and a change in perspective towards impairment. As athletes we really saw a big difference after [winning the silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in] London. The media gave us a big push. For the first time, our final [gold medal match against Brazil] was broadcast live. I expect the same for Paris, or even more." (lemag.seinesaintdenis.fr, 31 Jan 2020)

MUSIC ENTHUSIAST
He became interested in music after his father gifted him a guitar during his convalescence. He later composed two albums and became a qualified piano tuner. (allodocteurs.fr, 27 Feb 2020)

Legend
:
Gold Medal Event
:
Silver Medal Event
:
Bronze Medal Event
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