In a single stroke, the hopes and aspirations of an entire group of athletes have been swept away.
Although the T63 long jump will still feature at next week’s World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, for Dutch elite athletes Joël de Jong and Noah Mbuyamba, the decision signals the end of their Paralympic ambitions in this discipline.
Both athletes have dedicated years to their sporting careers and to promoting the T63 classification. At last year’s Paralympic Games in Paris, Joël de Jong secured the gold medal in this event, setting a new world record, while Noah Mbuyamba took home the bronze. The unexplained removal of their event affects not only their sporting futures, but also their faith in the integrity of the system.
'This sudden decision affects a group of athletes who have invested years in innovation, technique and raising the profile of their event - which is now being removed from the Paralympic Games without any explanation. This isn’t progress; it’s a step backwards for Paralympic sport,' said the two athletes.
Rather than accept the decision passively, Joël de Jong and Noah Mbuyamba are now calling for structural change. They are advocating for greater transparency and for fairer recognition of underrepresented athlete groups within Paralympic sport. While De Jong will now shift focus entirely to the T63 100 metres, Mbuyamba is currently left with no remaining Paralympic event in which he can compete. Nonetheless, both athletes continue to fight against the exclusion of future generations.
Pieke de Zwart, general director of the Dutch Athletics Federation, supports their campaign: 'with their performances, these two athletes inspire countless young people living with a disability. The Paralympic podium is being taken away from them, without any explanation. This decision not only disrupts the sporting and personal careers of today’s athletes, but also denies future generations the opportunities they deserve.'
