Meet the polio survivor swimming to raise money for rural NZ ambulances

Life for Karim took another turn when he was a teenager. Up until then, he and his family lived a normal life in Kabul. His parents were both educated and employed, and weren’t involved in politics. They were a regular, happy family. But when the Taliban invaded the city, everything changed.

“I was always outspoken and nosy, and I don’t stand for bullies,” Karim says, adding that his parents were worried he’d be shot and killed for standing up for himself, or asking too many questions. They decided, as a family, that Karim would leave the country and start a new life somewhere else. “I left on my own because we couldn’t afford to take the whole family,” he says. “It was a big decision for my family to make for me.”

Karim left Afghanistan in 1999, arriving in New Zealand with nothing. He had no money, no friends, he couldn’t speak the language, and he was faced with a huge culture shock. “It was challenge after challenge after challenge,” he recalls. “I arrived here with only the shirt on my back.” 

But Karim worked hard. He got a job, saved money. After a few years, the New Zealand government sponsored his family, and his parents, brothers and sisters joined him in the country. In 2011, Karim bought his own house. “Now, New Zealand is my home,” he says. “To this day, I’m so grateful to be alive.”

Karim’s positive outlook is nothing short of inspirational – and that’s his aim.

“I started my craziness (participating in events) at the age of 34, 35. But in most sports, 35 is when people retire!” he says. “I had so many problems, I had depression. But swimming, keeping fit, talking to people, giving back – these are the things that help you come back to yourself. I feel stronger now than I did five years ago.”

Karim feels that doing these events, and raising money for important initiatives, has given him a new outlook on his life. “It’s given me back my confidence, my mental health, my toughness, the goosebumps, the sense of achievement,” he says. “You’re one person and you can touch so many people. And the power of community? I just love it.”

At the end of the day, Karim wants to inspire those around him to get up and give things a go. “I’m not the fittest person. I’m only 60 kilos. But I want people to look at me and say, if this guy can do it, I can do it too.”