Hilmy Shawwal has returned to his Ealing sporting roots, visiting the Perivale athletics track where he first discovered the sport that would eventually take him to the Paralympic Games.

The Ealing-raised wheelchair racer visited Perivale Park Athletics Track last week, meeting 91 children taking part in the two-week Star Track Athletics Camp organised by Everyone Active and Ealing Council.

It was a particularly fitting homecoming.

Shawwal began athletics at the same Perivale track before going on to represent Team Ealing at the London Youth Games and later training with the Weir Archer Academy.

From Perivale to Paris - 

That local beginning eventually led Shawwal onto one of sport's biggest international stages.

At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, he competed in the men's T54 100 metres. Official Paralympic records show him racing in Heat 2 of the event.

Shawwal represented Tanzania at the Games and was also named as the country's flagbearer for the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony.

His appearance was particularly significant: Ealing.News reports that he became the first wheelchair racer to represent Tanzania at a Paralympic Games.

Inspiring Ealing's next generation

His return to Perivale wasn't simply a nostalgic visit.

Shawwal spoke with young athletes about his experiences and presented awards following a competition at the end of the camp.

The significance of returning to where his own sporting journey started wasn't lost on him. He described Ealing as his home and said coming back as a Paralympian to meet the next generation was a proud moment.

That gives this story a particularly strong local connection.

The children training at Perivale today were able to meet an athlete who once started at exactly the same track — and subsequently progressed from local competition to representing a country at the Paralympic Games.

More opportunities through local sport

The Star Track camp formed part of a wider summer programme giving young people in Ealing opportunities to participate in sport.

The programme included a five-day athletics camp at Perivale Park, alongside golf, junior gym opportunities and courses through which teenagers could gain qualifications potentially useful for future employment.

For young athletes beginning their own journeys, Shawwal's return provided something those programmes can't necessarily teach: a tangible example of just how far a start in local grassroots sport can potentially lead.

From Perivale to Paris — and now back to Perivale — Hilmy Shawwal's journey provides an inspiring reminder of the sporting talent that can begin right here in Ealing.

At a Glance

• 🏃 Hilmy Shawwal grew up in Ealing
• ♿ He began athletics at Perivale Park Athletics Track
• 🏅 He represented Team Ealing at the London Youth Games before progressing further in the sport.
• 🇹🇿 Shawwal represented Tanzania at Paris 2024
• 🌍 He became the first wheelchair racer to represent Tanzania at a Paralympic Games, according to Ealing.News.
• 🏟️ He competed in the men's 100m T54 at Paris 2024.
• 👧🧒 His return to Perivale saw him meet 91 young athletes.
• 🏆 He spoke to the youngsters and presented awards at the summer athletics camp.

Original report: Ealing.News — Paralympian Hilmy Shawwal returns to his Ealing sporting roots