From athlete to leader: Ritah Asiimwe on the IPC’s Para Athlete Professionals course
Uganda’s Ritah Asiimwe, who competed in Para badminton at Tokyo 2020, shares her experience participating in the Para Athlete Professionals leadership course The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is accepting applications for the next cohort. Applications are open until 2 August 2026 23 Jul 2026
In May, 19 Paralympians celebrated completing a seven-month leadership course organised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), designed to support retiring Para athletes in transitioning into leadership roles beyond sport.
The Para Athlete Professionals programme equips athletes with the skills, confidence and networks needed to thrive within the Paralympic Movement and beyond, supporting their transition from high-performance sport to life after competition.
With the application period for the second cohort of Paralympians open until 2 August, we spoke to members of the inaugural group to share a series of stories about their key takeaways and messages for future participants.
Here, Ritah Asiimwe, who became Uganda’s first Para badminton athlete to compete at a Paralympic Games, shares how she believes her “future is brighter” after completing the programme.
IPC: What did you learn from the Para Athlete Professionals course?
The course was so enriching and educating. I’ve learned to really get focused. As an athlete, I still confuse whether I should retire or not.\The programme has given me the focus to think what’s next and how to plan for the future. Most of us as athletes, we keep wondering, “What do I do after being an athlete?” That has always run in my mind.
The question of where I’m heading is more realistic. I think my future is brighter, I’m seeing hope at the end of this compared to previous years when I was playing and thinking, “What now?”
IPC: What encouraged you to apply for this programme?
I applied for this programme because I saw this as a tool to conquer all my fears I had, to improve and add value to what I have already achieved as an athlete.
I saw it as a compliment to being a Paralympian. I looked at the programme as something that will really build on my future and my life.
IPC: What are some of the challenges you faced in your transition from a high-performance athlete to your journey after sport.
The challenge I faced was having to make a concrete decision to retire because you feel like you are making a lot of loss, separation from your teammates. You feel like you’re going to phase off a bit, so the decision to stop playing and moving to the working world means having a shift that people are stop believing in what you have done.
That fear of leaving what you are known for is a really big challenge – it has been a big challenge for me and it is still a big challenge because sometimes the fear to retire is too large.
The biggest challenge is to have to make a concrete decision of moving forward and knowing that many people are looking up to you, the children and elderly, that fire and hope you put in them, you think “Maybe off the court, they will not believe in me”.
But then I think, “if it is a shift, they will shift with you because they will think ‘if Ritah could do this, and has prospered to this level, then I can too.”
IPC: You had the opportunity to meet and learn from leaders and professionals within the Paralympic Movement. What insights did you gain from their experiences?
My biggest experience was - always, always, always make a step forward. Stop looking at yourself as you can’t. You have to move because if you don’t make a step, nothing will ever move. You have to start moving no matter what.
IPC: What did you learn from other Paralympians?
I talked to different people, and they gave me different advice. I think that is the whole reason why we are here – to get different ideas.
From the (IPC) President to my cohorts, I love the way everyone is very accessible and reachable. I felt so free to ask anyone at any time, not having to ask myself “How should I approach this person? Will they accept me? Will they have time for me?” Being here has given me a free and open mind, because everyone is free. It gave me a different look at life.
About the Para Athlete Professionals Programme
From 2025 to 2028, a select group of Paralympians from around the world will take part in this annual programme, designed to unlock their leadership potential of those athletes transitioning into retirement.
Through in-person and online learning, participants will build the skills, confidence, and networks needed to thrive in leadership roles. Cultivating a new generation of Para athletes who are not only ambassadors for the Paralympic Movement but also active, impactful changemakers in their communities and beyond.
How to apply for the 2026-2027 programme
Following the successful completion of its first-ever leadership course for retiring Paralympians in May 2026, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced a call for applications for the second cycle.
The six-month course takes place both in-person and online, and will kick off at the IPC Campus in Bonn, Germany, in November 2026. After the initial week in Bonn, Paralympians will participate in several months of online learning courses covering subjects including financial literacy, strategic thinking, and public speaking. At the end of the course, Paralympians will present an Athlete Transition Action Plan, a personalised strategy for career advancement and long-term impact.
To be eligible for the course, applicants must be Paralympians who have competed in at least one edition of the Paralympic Games and have retired from competition or are in the process of retiring.
The application for the 2026/2027 cycle can be accessed here. Applications are open until 2 August 2026.
