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Attack victim to Paralympian denied opportunity to compete at home Games

In 2015, Justin Phongsavanh's life changed forever after he was shot and paralysed in an unprovoked attack.

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One particular night in 2015 in a McDonalds car park, Justin Phongsavanh's life changed forever after he was shot and paralysed in an unprovoked attack.

Since working his way back, he won Paralympic bronze in the javelin in Tokyo.

Now with a chance to compete in front of his home crowd at the Games of LA in 2028, his dream appears to have been ripped away from him after Javelin at the Paralympics was removed from the programme.

He told Not By The Playbook's Katie Smith about seeing his dream snatched away.

Photo: Justin Phongsavanh of team United States of America competes in the Men's Javelin Throw F54 during day eight of the World Para Athletics Championships Kobe at Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium on May 24, 2024 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.(Credit: Getty Images)

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