British Paralympian Anne Wafula Strike is transforming sport with her advocacy for inclusion within the Commonwealth. Her journey, from a childhood affected by polio to her current work in human rights, underscores the need to create equal opportunities for people with disabilities worldwide.

Anne’s story began in the community of Mihuu, Kenya, where she was born and, by the age of two, contracted polio, leaving her reliant on a wheelchair. At six, her family moved to Nairobi, where she faced an entirely new struggle: the social stigma surrounding her disability.

In an environment that didn’t understand her condition, Anne recalls how curious children would approach her, intrigued by the “lively girl with orthopaedic legs and crutches.” Many parents, however, kept their distance, fearing she might be “cursed and contagious.”

Reflecting on her childhood, Anne says, “I had never felt so rejected and unwanted,” describing how she grew up with few friends or playmates, even in a neighbourhood filled with children her age.

Despite her challenging youth, Anne found comfort in music, singing, and ultimately, sport. Discovering wheelchair racing was a transformative moment in her life that would propel her onto the global stage and make her the first athlete from sub-Saharan Africa to compete in wheelchair racing at the World Championships and the Paralympic Games.

Although her athletics career took off, with Anne embracing her pioneering role, she remained aware of the challenges and difficulties that athletes like herself face regarding diversity and equal opportunities.

Those early steps were crucial in shaping Anne’s work, which gradually took on a new significance as she became an advocate for inclusion, especially in 2020, when she was named Commonwealth Champion for Equality in Sport. In this role, she has directly engaged with leaders across the Commonwealth, helping raise awareness about the importance of inclusion in this arena.

“The web of exclusion is very complex. First, I was sidelined for having a disability; then, I found myself on the outside for being a woman and Black. If nothing is done, these inequalities will block progress towards achieving fair institutions and societies by 2030,” she says.

Her reflection resonates with many who face the harsh reality of normalised rejection based on disability, gender, and race. It is estimated that there are 650 million people with disabilities worldwide, most of them in low- and middle-income countries, including many Commonwealth nations. Anne’s advocacy aims to create a world where these individuals can experience a more dignified reality.