Tshotlego Morama

Paul Morama
Personal information
Birth nameTshotlego Paul Morama
Full namePaul Tshotlego Morama
NationalityMotswana
Born (1987-02-02) February 2, 1987 (age 37)
Letlhakane, Botswana
Sport
SportAthletics
Disability classT46

Paul Tshotlego Morama (born 2 February 1987), born as Tshotlego Paul Morama is an intersex Motswana paralympic sprinter. He had the world record in the women's 400m sprint in the T46 disability category after winning a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Paralympics. He also won a gold medal at the 2007 All-Africa Games in the women's 200 meters. Despite winning those medals as a legal female, he has now changed his legal identity to a male.

Biography

Morama was born 2 February 1987 in the Kgongwe ward of Letlhakane on 2 February 1987.[1][2] He represented Botswana at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Greece, where he won gold in the women's 400m sprint in the T46 disability category, setting a new world record in the process, with a time of 55.99. At the time, he was still identified as a female.[3][4] Morama also won gold at the 2007 All-Africa Games, setting a new African record in the women's 200 meters.[5] He fathered a child.[4] Morama was due to represent Botswana again at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, having withdrawn prior to the Games due to injury.[6][7] Morama was criticized for growing a beard despite being born a female. He had two sexual organs, a vagina and a penis. However, the only sexually active organ he has is his penis.[4] He wanted to marry, however, the person he married's parents were uncomfortable with him. In the past, he has had two different relationships.[4] He is currently single.[4] Though when he was born he was legally classified as a female, he is actually intersex.[4][8]

References

  1. ^ "Morama sets sights at next Paralympics". Dailynews. Archived from the original on 9 November 2004. Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via Government of Botswana.
  2. ^ Morama, Paul (18 July 2020). "Birth Certificate". Facebook. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  3. ^ "T46 FEMALE 400 2004". World Abilitysport. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Kolantsho, Neo (29 July 2020). "Parents Deny Me Their Daughters". The Midweek Sun. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  5. ^ Pilane, Masego (18 July 2007). "Botswana: Morama Snatches Gold Medal". The Voice (Francistown). Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via allAfrica.
  6. ^ Khutsafalo, Boitumelo (5 September 2008). "Botswana locked out of Paralympics". Mmegi. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  7. ^ Mackay, Duncan (9 August 2010). "Botswana Paralympic chiefs launch appeal for more funding". Inside The Games. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  8. ^ Kayawe, Baboki (23 September 2016). "Inside the agony of gender variance in Botswana". Mmegi.