Abderrazak Saktiwy, a former Moroccan weightlifting champion, faces a life-altering battle with paralysis following a devastating accident that abruptly ended his illustrious athletic career. As he makes a heartfelt plea for financial assistance to undergo a potential life-changing spinal cord transplant, Saktiwy clings to hope and the possibility of regaining his mobility. Abdelrazak Sektioui ‹ › The life of former Moroccan weightlifting champion Abderrazak Saktiwy took a dramatic turn, from a career filled with titles and accolades to a daily struggle with paralysis, after a tragic training accident that ended his athletic journey and completely changed the course of his life. Saktiwy began practicing weightlifting in the 1990s, quickly rising through the ranks and excelling in national competitions, where he was crowned Morocco's champion on multiple occasions. In 2003, he moved to the United Arab Emirates, where he worked at a powerlifting club while continuing his athletic career. At the same time, he joined the Moroccan Federation of Powerlifting and Iron Hand Sports, representing Morocco in several international competitions. He built an impressive record, winning first place in the Gulf Championship three times, claiming African and Arab titles in the bench press, and securing the Moroccan championship title seven times. A 140 kg weight ended his career This distinguished career came to a sudden and tragic halt in 2019, as he was preparing to compete in the World Powerlifting Championship in Canada. «I was training outside the club when I was involved in a severe accident that turned my life upside down», Saktiwy, now 57, told Yabiladi. «A 140-kilogram weight fell on my head, causing complete paralysis that ended my sports career. I became bedridden, unable to move», he said. After the accident, the Red Cross took charge of his treatment, where he underwent physical rehabilitation sessions for three months, costing approximately 900,000 dirhams. However, this treatment journey was incomplete, as he had to stop the rehabilitation due to the inability to afford the high costs, leaving him facing a complicated health situation without sufficient financial means. In a recent development, Saktiwy revealed that doctors informed him of the possibility of undergoing a spinal cord transplant in the UAE, a procedure that might offer him a chance to regain part of his mobility. However, its cost exceeds 2 million dirhams, a sum far beyond his means. In light of this situation, the former Moroccan champion made a humanitarian appeal, hoping to stand on his feet again. «I appeal to His Majesty King Mohammed VI and all benefactors to help me cover the operation costs. Direct contact with the clinic can provide more details. All I wish for is to stand on my feet again», he said. Saktiwy currently lives in a difficult humanitarian situation, residing in the club where he used to work, as its owner provided him with a place to stay, along with someone to assist him with daily needs such as clothing, bathing, and eating, given his complete inability to perform these tasks himself, especially in the absence of any family support in the foreign country. Despite the harsh ordeal, Saktiwy asserts that he has accepted his reality and adapted to it, emphasizing that he still holds hope of standing on his feet again, and his faith in God is strong, as he awaits a helping hand to restore part of the life that the accident took from him.
