“I’m the player’s eyes. I’m the player’s mind. If I mess up, I mess up the whole game.”

For Ritah Asiimwe, there are no excuses—it's go-time. A Ugandan Paralympian, African Para-Badminton Champion, line judge, and unstoppable single mom, Ritah is writing her own rules. When not competing herself, she’s called the lines for the world’s top eight players on the biggest stages, standing tall with confidence and nerves of steel. “Every point matters. They’re fighting for everything, and I have to be right there with them.”

In this episode, Ritah shares what it takes to juggle elite sport, officiating, motherhood, and a full-time job. She shares a bit about her pregnancy journey: while two months pregnant, Ritah competed at the World Championships, Dubai, and Egypt. At six months pregnant, she trained without hesitation. “Every female athlete should know: It’s okay to show up pregnant, to play, to run, to keep going.” She opens up about mental toughness, self-love, and taking charge of your own destiny. “Nobody else is going to do what you’re supposed to do. It’s on you.”

Her mantra? Start now. Whether she’s preparing for LA 2028, pushing African athletes to see line judging as a career, or simply encouraging others to bet on themselves, Ritah is living proof: there are no limits when your mind and heart are all in.

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Flame Bearers is a multimedia movement, illuminating the unsung stories of elite women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events and have worked with over 270 Olympians and Paralympians from 55 countries and counting.

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