If Anas Al Khalifa ever begins to think everything is getting too hard, he stops to remind himself there are plenty of people in the world who have far bigger struggles than he does.

It’s the mindset that helped Khalifa create history on Thursday by becoming the first refugee athlete to compete in paracanoe at a Paralympic Games.

Syrian-born Khalifa raced twice on the opening day of the paracanoe competition in Tokyo, in both the men’s KL1 and the VL2. Two years ago he had never even sat in a canoe.

“It was very good for me,” Khalifa said.

“I was a bit nervous, but it was great to compete today. I’m very proud of myself. Not everybody can get so far in such a short time.”

Khalifa almost gave up the sport last year when his brother was killed during fighting in Syria, but was convinced to continue by his coach. His efforts paid off when he was selected to represent the refugee team in Tokyo.

By most people’s standards Khalifa has had a tough life. Forced to flee his Syrian homeland in 2014 because of the deadly conflict which was ripping his country apart, he eventually settled in Germany in 2015 and began to rebuild his life.

But he broke his back after falling from a ladder in 2018. A recommendation from his physiotherapist to take up a sport to help his rehabilitation led him to paracanoe, and ultimately, the Paralympics.

“I’ve seen many people who have it worse than me but who keep fighting,” Khalifa said.

“If I look at these people I know I have to keep fighting, too. It gives me motivation.”

Khalifa finished sixth in both his races, and will have the chance to build on his Paralympic Games experience with semi-finals on Friday and Saturday.

“It feels really good to be part of the Refugee team,” he said.

“I can’t say right now if I will later compete for the German team or not. We’ll see. I do intend to carry on and compete at Paris 2024, though.”