The Deaflympics also known as Deaflympiad are a periodic series of multi-sport events sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at which Deaf athletes compete at an elite level. Unlike the athletes in other IOC-sanctioned events, athletes cannot be guided by sounds. The games have been organized by the Comité International des Sports des Sourds since the first event in 1924.
The 1993 Summer Deaflympics, officially known as the 17th Summer Deaflympics is an international multi-sport event that was held from 24 July 1993 to 2 August 1993. The event was hosted by Sofia, Bulgaria.
The 2013 Summer Deaflympics, officially known as the 22nd Summer Deaflympics, was an international multi-sport event that took place in Sofia, Bulgaria from July 26 to August 4, 2013. The marathon had been held before in Füssen, Germany on 21 July.
Sofia was hosting the biggest sports event for deaf athletes for a second time. In the past the Bulgarian capital hosted the 1993 Summer Deaflympics, thus becoming only the second city, together with Copenhagen, which has hosted two Summer Deaflympics.
Gábor Máthé is a Hungarian male tennis player, who competes in the men's single and double during his career. His team is Tatár Tennis Club in Debrecen, Hungary. He is best known for winning the men's single tennis final on August 2 at the 2013 Summer Deaflympics in Sofia, Bulgaria, with a three set victory over Mikaël Laurent from France.
Rebecca Meyers is a Paralympic swimmer of the United States. She won three gold and one silver medals in Rio 2016. She was also a member of the 2012 Paralympic Team, and won a silver and bronze in London. Rebecca Meyers has also competed at the 2009 Summer Deaflympics which was held in Taiwan, which is also her only appearance at the Deaflympics. She also clinched a bronze medal in the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay event in the 2009 Summer Deaflympics.
Virender SinghYadav is an Indian freestyle wrestler. Competing in the 74 kg weight division, he has won 3 Deaflympics Gold Medals and a bronze medal in 4 appearances. He won gold medals at 2005 Summer Deaflympics, 2013 Summer Deaflympics and 2017 Summer Deaflympics. In addition to that, he also won a bronze at 2009 Summer Deaflympics.
The Philippines has been competing at the Deaflympics since the 2009 edition. The country is represented by the Phil Sports Federation of the Deaf (PSFD).
Iceland competed at the Deaflympics for the first time in 1993 and also bagged their first medal at the Deaflympics, which is also Iceland's only medal in Deaflympics history. Iceland also competed in the 1997, 2005 and 2013 Deaflympic events.
Afghanistan competed at the Deaflympics for the first time during the 2017 Summer Deaflympics which was held in Samsun, Turkey. Afghani team sent a five-member delegation for the Deaflympic event held in 2017, which is the only Deaflympic event where Afghanistan took part. The five members were: Ahmad Reshad Azizi (400m), Faiz Ahmad Faizi, Ekilil Khaliqyar (200m), Payman Noori (100m) and Ahman Fawad Sultani (100m). Afghanistan is yet to earn a medal at the Deaflympics.
Amy-Lea Mills or Amy Mills is an Australian Deaflympic track and field athlete who represented Australia in 2005 Summer Deaflympics, 2009 Summer Deaflympics and in 2013 Summer Deaflympics.
Czech Republic which was formerly a part of Czechoslovakia, first competed at the Deaflympics, as an independent nation in 1993. But in 1993, coincidentally Czechoslovakia competed in its last Deaflympic event. Prior to the Dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, Czech athletes went on to compete at the Deaflympics from 1928 to 1993 for Czechoslovakia.
Greece competed in the 2017 Summer Deaflympics which was held in Sofia, Bulgaria. Greece sent a delegation consisting of 54 competitors for the multi-sporting event.
Beryl Atieno Wamira is a Kenyan female deaf track and field athlete. She competed in the 2013 Summer Deaflympics and in the 2017 Summer Deaflympics representing Kenya. She has won a total of 3 medals in her Deaflympic career including a Junior deaf world record breaking gold medal in the women's 200m event during the 2013 Summer Deaflympics.
Norway competed in the 2017 Summer Deaflympics which was held in Samsun, Turkey. Norway sent a delegation consisting of 7 participants for the event. This was the 20th consecutive time that Norway participated at the Summer Deaflympics since making its Deaflympic debut in 1931.
Cuba competed in the 2017 Summer Deaflympics which was held in Samsun, Turkey. Cuba sent a delegation consisting of only 5 participants for the event. This was the 6th successive time that Cuba participated in the Summer Deaflympics since making its Deaflympic debut in 1993.
India competed in the 2017 Summer Deaflympics which was held in Samsun, Turkey. India sent a delegation consisting of 46 participants for the event.
Tone Tangen Myrvoll is a former Norwegian deaf cross-country skier, orienteer and runner. She has represented Norway in both Summer and Winter Deaflympics from 1985 to 2003 on seven occasions. She has competed at the Summer Deaflympics in 1985 and in 1989 and competed at the Winter Deaflympics in 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999 and in 2003. Tone Tangen Myrvoll initially started her career as orienteer before pursuing her career in cross country skiing. She is regarded as the most successful cross country skier in Deaflympic history with a medal tally of 15 including 11 gold medals. She is also the most successful athlete from Norway to compete at the Deaflympics.
Turkmenistan first competed at the Summer Deaflympics in 2001. The country also competed at the Summer Deaflympics in 2005, 2013 and 2017.
Uganda competed at one edition of the Deaflympics: the 1997 Summer Deaflympics held in Copenhagen, Denmark. The country sent a delegation of twelve athletes and did not win any medals.
Moldova first competed at the Summer Deaflympics in 1993. The country has competed at five Summer Deaflympics and has not yet competed at the Winter Deaflympics.
