KIND is Principal Sponsor for the world’s fastest para-athlete.

Now almost blind, with just 2% sight, Salum Kashafali is the world’s fastest para-athlete. A world champion and world record holder at the Paralympics, he is also Norway’s fastest able-bodied man. And today, he is training harder than ever, thanks to a principal sponsorship deal with KIND.

Originally from the Congo, Salum had a hard early life, where his family fought against poverty and the ravages of war. After losing two of his brothers, Salum and his family came to Norway as refugees. In this new country, he had to adapt to a new language, a new culture, and a new fight against racism. In Norway, he was also diagnosed with Stargarth, a congenital disease that has gradually made his sight deteriorate. However, all this trauma and hardship has not stopped him pursuing his love of athletics.

Salum became nationally known when he set a new world record for a pair of athletes in the T12 100 meters at the 2019 Bislett Games. His dream year continued with gold in the 100 meters for the able-bodied in the Norwegian Athletics Championships and then gold for the visually impaired in the World Para Athletics in Dubai. During the Norwegian Sports Gala in 2020, he was named male Para Athlete of the year and nominated for Norwegian sports personality of the year alongside the likes of Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Braut Haaland.

Performing at the highest level

Despite this success, money has always been a challenge. Without sponsors and with jobs difficult to secure, the expense of training was becoming an increasing burden. Today, however, with his new sponsorship deal with KIND, Salum can for the first time in his life make a living from his sport.

Tom Emil Olsen, Founder of KIND, said: “I got to learn about Salum's story and then when I met him I asked if he had any sponsors, and when he explained he did not, I thought ‘I want to do something about this’. The sponsorship deal we have agreed is the equivalent of a good annual salary and is enough to enable Salum to pursue his athletics full time.

"I myself have a daughter who is visually impaired with 10-15% vision, and I know how difficult it has been for her in everyday life. Salum is now Norway's fastest man and beats able-bodied competition, with just 2% of his sight. We do not share the same story, but we do share the same vision; the drive to always prove people wrong. I want this sponsorship deal to signal to everyone out there that para-sport is important, and that what Salum has achieved already goes beyond greatness.”

Salum Kashafali commented: "If I can be the best among the able-bodied in Norway, then I can compete with the best in Europe. The goal for the next few years is to participate in the European Championships for both the able-bodied and para-athletes, and in both the Paralympics and Olympics. With KIND’s support, I want to show that it is possible to be both a Paralympian and an Olympian. Previously, I’ve not trained optimally, but now I can travel to training camps without worrying about unpaid bills. But this sponsorship not only helps me, it will help the whole of para-sport. KIND’s generosity shows that there are good people out there, who have faith in people like me to perform at the highest level.”