Iranian refugee athlete Hadi Tiranvalipour faced a huge setback at the Paris Games. The 26-year-old taekwondo competitor had high hopes for an Olympic medal. Unfortunately, his dream ended abruptly. He fought against Palestinian Omar Ismail in the men’s under 58-kilogram category. The match was held at the Grand Palais, a grand venue. Tiranvalipour lost 2–0 in what turned out to be a one-sided bout.
Interview After Fight
“I’m not satisfied with my performance; I don’t have an explanation for this,” he said. “I wanted a good result, but it seems impossible now.”
Before joining the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, Tiranvalipour competed with Iran’s national team for eight years. He achieved notable success, including a gold medal at the 2015 Asian Junior Championship. After advocating for women’s rights, he lost his job and had to leave Iran. In October 2022, he went to Turkey and then Italy. He lived in a forest for 10 days and later spent three months on a sofa in shared accommodation, aided by Iranian students.
Be Kind
“Our journey is too difficult,” he said after losing to Ismail. “It’s hard for all refugee athletes. Being here is extremely tough for each of us.”
Refugee athletes compete under the same flag, coming from various parts of the world. The team was formed for the 2016 Rio Olympics to symbolize hope and highlight refugee struggles. Taekwondo specialist Dina Pouryounes Langeroudi also competed at the Grand Palais. She lost in the last 16, facing Guo Qing of China in the women’s under 49-kilogram category.
Langeroudi’s chance for a medal is not over. She will enter a repechage later. Olympic taekwondo tournaments award two bronze medals. The losing semifinalists compete against contestants defeated by the finalists.
These athletes’ stories are marked by challenges and perseverance. They face competition pressures and life’s many difficulties.
