Tokyolane is an ethnographic documentary about Dimitris Karypidis’ journey to the 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. The film explores the difficulties and challenges Dimitris faces as he prepares for the most important competition in his career alongside his coach Giorgos Tyligadas. Suffering from type III severe incomplete osteogenesis, his condition is considered one of the heaviest forms of disability. Internationally certified by the IPC in Aix-en-Provence, France in 2014 as well as in Dublin, Ireland in 2018, Dimitris races in the S1 IPC (International Paralympic Committee) Competition category and has so far reached all the necessary time targets in order to take part in the 2021 Paralympics.

 

Dimtiris was born in Tomsk, Siberia in 1989 to a Greek mother and a Russian father. In 1993 he moved with his mother Sofia to Alexandroupolis, Greece where he is based. His diagnosis came soon after his birth. Reaching his teens, he had already suffered hundreds of fractures for which he had to undergo more than 50 surgeries. His official diagnosis according to the Primary Health Committee, is functional paralysis due to severe incomplete osteogenesis with> 80% life expectancy. He got involved professionally in swimming in October 2012. 

 

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