Hayward resident Mohamed Lahna, 42, won silver in the triathlon for the U.S. in the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Born without a right femur, a condition called Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency, Lahna swam, cycled, and ran to the finish with a prosthetic leg.
The Paralympics, founded in 1960, is a series of international multisport events taking place every two years in the same host city of the Olympics. The 2024 games featured over 4,400 disabled athletes competing across over 500 events in 23 disciplines.
The paratriathlon consisted of a 750-meter swim in the Seine river, 20-kilometer multi-lap bike, and a 5-kilometer run through Paris. The triathlon is considered one of the most difficult sports there is because of the endurance and skills needed.
Born and raised in Casablanca, Morocco, Lahna attended an elementary school for disabled children. The athlete said that growing up he would play soccer using crutches. He’d later receive a makeshift leg made of wood and leather.
“It was very basic,” said Lahna.
The leg was limited in movement and lacked the bendability necessary for sports.
Still, his love for nature and sports grew. He received his first prosthetic in his 20s and discovered his passion for triathlon, riding his first bike at 25.
The 42-year-old stayed in Morocco and became a graphic designer before moving to Paris, and in 2011, Hayward, California. He’s been training for triathlons for over 15 years and, for the past four years, has competed and trained with a focus on qualifying for the Paralympics.
According to Lahna, a triathlete must accumulate points by performing well in top-tier competitions and emerge among the top seven to eight athletes internationally in order to compete in the Paralympics triathlon.
Lahna said the next step is preparing for the 2028 Paralympics, which will be in Los Angeles.
During his preparations for the games, the athlete said he struggled with time management. Paratriathletes have a lot of specialized paratriathlon equipment that require preparation and maintenance that takes time from actually participating in a race or practicing.
Lahna shared that the beginnings of his triathlete career were not easy. The athlete vomited in the midst of his first race. However, his struggles then and now haven’t deterred him from dedicating his time to endless practice.
According to USA Triathlon, Lahna is classified as PTS2, meaning he has severe impairments. Their rankings go from PTS1-PTS5, with the severity of impairments increasing as the numbers decrease. However, Lahna said that for his entire life he never felt hindered.
“It’s always been a part of my identity,” said Lahna.
Aside from being an athlete, Lahna is a husband, father of three kids, and a designer. He works in user experience design, which helps pay for the extensive training and costs of being a globally renowned athlete.
He recommended that students challenge themselves, set goals, and train themselves, suggesting they sign up for a competition at least once a year. Lahna coined consistency as “the key to success.” The athlete also advised Mt. Eden students to be compassionate. “Be kind to each other, we are all missing something,” said Lahna.
