Meleane Vasitai Leaaepeni Falemaka participated in the Marrakech 2024 World Para Athletics Grand Prix held in Morocco from April 21st to 29th, aiming to complete her classification in the women’s discus throw event. Success in this event could pave her way to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
This 8th edition of the International Para-Athletics Meeting took place from April 26th to 28th at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI. This meeting brought together athletes from more than 64 countries across the Arab world, Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania and the Americas.
The Grand Prix provided para-athletes with the opportunity to meet the Minimum Entry Standard (MES) and High Performance Standard (HPS) for the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Athletes with physical, visual, and intellectual impairments attended.
Falemaka, who has paralysis on the right side of her body since a stroke in 2010, competed in the Women’s discus throw F37/38 event on April 25th. She threw a distance of 16.68 metres in the single round of competition beating personal best of 16.40 metres. The International Paralympic Committee will inform the Tonga National Paralympic Committee later in the year whether Falemaka’s results will make her eligible for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to be held late August.
“I’m thankful for this opportunity to boost my confidence in who I can be,” Falemaka said. “And thank you to the Paralympic Committee for giving me a chance to visit Morocco and to meet with athletes from around the world.”
Falemaka’s participation was made possible with support from the International Paralympic Committee Athlete Competition Support Grant and the Oceania Paralympic Committee. The event was hosted by the Royal Moroccan Federation of Sports for People with Disability.
