Racing with Heart: Paralympian Mohamed Lahna Returns to Wildflower

For Paralympian Mohamed Lahna, Wildflower isn’t just a race—it’s a return to the soul of sport, a celebration of resilience, and a reminder of how far he’s come.

Born in Casablanca, Morocco, Mohamed came into the world as the eldest of five children with a rare birth defect called Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency. He was effectively missing his right femur and fibula, and doctors told his parents not to get their hopes up about him ever walking. But limitations were never part of Mohamed’s vocabulary. As a child, he was relentless—climbing shelves, causing mischief in his neighborhood, and always finding his path around obstacles.

That mindset has carried him from a scrappy kid in Morocco to a Paralympic medalist, world traveler, and Wildflower loyalist.

It wasn’t until age 20 that Mohamed received his first real running prosthesis from CAF. He rode a bike for the first time at 25, crossed the Atlas Mountains at 26, and ran his first marathon at 27. He went on to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar, complete the infamous Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert, and became the only adaptive athlete to finish the Norseman Xtreme Triathlon as a black t-shirt winner. All of this while earning a business degree, working full-time, and training for the world stage.

“I heard of Wildflower through CAF,” Mohamed says, referencing the Challenged Athletes Foundation, which has supported his journey for years. “I had just moved to the Bay Area and ended up joining other CAF athletes while racing this event. I think I’ve been lucky to have raced this four times now!”

His racing resume includes a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games representing Morocco and a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games representing Team USA. But today, Mohamed calls California home – and he’s set his sights on LA28! Balancing his roles as a full-time professional, husband, and father, Lahna remains committed to his athletic pursuits and views sport to inspire others and change perceptions about disability.  In addition to his competitive goals, Lahna is passionate about mentoring and advocating for adaptive athletes.

Now a father of three, Mohamed’s return to Wildflower this year carries even more meaning. “It’s been almost a decade since my last Wildflower,” he shares. “I’m super excited to come back with my family and share this experience with my wife and three kids.”

Known as the “Woodstock of Triathlon,” Wildflower is more than a race. Set along Lake San Antonio in Central California, it’s a rugged celebration of community, camping, and the raw joy of endurance sport. For Mohamed, it was one of his first triathlon experiences in the U.S. and it quickly became a tradition. “I’ve raced everything from sprint to Ironman, on and off-road,” he says. “But Wildflower still holds a special place in my heart. I remember crossing the finish line with my 6-month-old son. It was a moment I’ll never forget. I always appreciate that Wildflower recognizes para-athletes, creating a category for us to race under. We are a growing community and it means so much to have this inclusivity.”

He laughs, recalling one favorite memory on a scorching race day: “I was dying on the run and passed through a camping area where someone offered orange slices. I stopped and grabbed a few—it was the best orange I’ve ever had. Thank you to that person!”

His message for anyone hesitant about Wildflower?

“Don’t worry about racing. Just come for the experience. It’s a loving community of athletes, families, and friends who appreciate outdoor life, camping, and having a little fun racing each other. You’ll love it.”

“I’m proud to share my story,” Mohamed says. “To show others they can reach beyond what they think is possible. It doesn’t matter where we come from or how old we are…there’s always a way to create your own path.”

And at Wildflower, where soul and sport collide, Mohamed Lahna reminds us that finish lines are just another kind of beginning.

“We can do more than we ever imagined if we just dare ourselves to push a little harder, go a little further.”