2024 UNESCO Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination

Adiaratou Iglesias

Adiaratou Iglesias Forneiro is a 25-year-old elite athlete with an 80% visual impairment, originally from Mali. Born with albinism, she faced significant challenges in her home country, including safety concerns, which led her to move to Spain in 2011. Her passion for athletics began in Mali and flourished in Spain, where she joined the Lucus Caixa Rural Galega club in 2014 with the support of her adoptive mother, Lina Iglesias Forneiro. Adiaratou holds multiple Spanish national records and titles in both able-bodied and para-athletic categories, showcasing her determination and advocating for inclusion in sport. She is a Paralympic Champion in the 100m (Tokyo 2020) and silver medalist in the 400m. At the World Para Athletics Championships, she won Gold (200m) and Silver (100m) in 2023. Adiaratou is also a Double European Champion (2021), and she represented Spain at the Paris 2024 Paralympics (4th in 400m, 5th in 100m).