Nigeria's Rukayat Suleimon, the first blind woman to win gold at a major international sambo event
She took up the martial art this year and won on her international debut at the World Sambo Cup.
Lagos — Rukayat Taiwo Suleimon only took up sambo this year, but the Nigerian is already in the history books.
At the 2026 World Sambo Cup in Yerevan, Armenia, she beat Uzbekistan's Charos Ortikova in the final of the women's 54kg category on her international debut. It was the first time women with visual impairments had been included at the competition, and she became the first blind woman to win gold at a major international sambo tournament.
"Being the first female blind sambist in the world to win the gold medal makes me great," the 32-year-old told BBC Sport Africa. "This is my first time in sambo and God crowned my efforts."
From athletics to the podium
Suleimon lost her sight in 2009 to glaucoma. She says she felt isolated until a vocational centre for blind people in Lagos led her to a para-athletics coach. Since 2011 she has won more than 20 national medals in sprints, with guide runner Stephen Oyelakin, as well as discus and shot put, before moving to judo and sambo.
"What sighted people can do, a blind person can do even better," she said. Compatriot Elizabeth Aseso also competed in Yerevan, in the 59kg category. Suleimon is due to compete at the World Sambo Championships in Uzbekistan this month.
Source: BBC Sport Africa, November 2026.
