About Kimberly Alkemade
Paralympic champion over 200 metres. World record holder in the T64 class. Mother. And recently back on the track.
Where I am now
I am a mother. Right now that is the biggest thing I do, and it changes everything: my daily schedule, my recovery, my reasons to train.
After Paris I closed the book on elite sport. I had given everything, I was happy with what was in the trophy cabinet, and I wanted to build something else. That became the Moving for Growth Foundation, through which we want to improve the pathway from grassroots to elite sport for Paralympic talent. Not through charity, but through a structure in which companies invest in athletes and get something back. Every athlete deserves the support I had myself.
Alongside that, I take the stage to tell my story, I study nutrition and dietetics, and I am working on my return as a sprinter. The Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games are on the calendar. As a mother. That is no guarantee and no promise, it is a plan with a qualification moment in 2027 on which everything depends. I know how that works. I have done it before.
Looking at what is possible: that is just who I am.
Where I come from
On 28 July 1998 two coaches collided on a French motorway near Montélimar. Seven people died, among them my mother. I was thrown from the bus, lay badly injured on the roadside and lost my lower leg. I was eight.
What happened next is in my book. In short: I started athletics late, had a career of six and a half years and in that time became Paralympic champion, world record holder and three-time Paralympic medallist. Bronze in Tokyo, gold and silver in Paris.
It has not always been pretty. The world of elite sport can be harsh and sometimes downright unhealthy. There were periods when I was on the verge of quitting. I learned to give my attention only to what moves me forward, and that made me faster than all the technique in the world.
To the top
On 5 November 2018 I became a full-time athlete at Papendal. After that:
Year
Competition
Result
2021
Paralympic Games Tokyo
Bronze 200 m
Paris 2024
In 2024 I set a world record three times. In September I won gold over 200 metres at the Paralympic Games in Paris. Over 100 metres I finished second in 12.70. The Netherlands took first, second and third over that distance.
Back
On 18 March 2025 I retired. In March 2026 my son was born. A conversation with a doctor about elite sport and motherhood got me thinking. On 3 August 2026 I announced my return, on terms that suit our family. The goal is Los Angeles 2028. I have not qualified yet.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Kimberly Alkemade?
I am a Dutch Paralympic sprinter in the T64 class. I won gold over 200 metres and silver over 100 metres at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, and bronze in Tokyo before that.
What world records does Kimberly Alkemade hold?
I hold the T64 world records over 100 metres (12.46) and 200 metres (25.29).
Why does Kimberly Alkemade run on a blade?
I lost my left lower leg in a bus crash in France in 1998, in which my mother also died. I run on a sprint prosthesis, known as a blade.
Can Kimberly Alkemade be booked as a speaker?
Yes. I speak about resilience, mental health in elite sport and combining ambition with everyday life. Fees on request via the contact form.
Is Kimberly Alkemade returning to the Games?
That is the plan. I am working towards Los Angeles 2028, with the qualification moment in 2027 as the deciding point.