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Zahra Rahimi Dedicates Her Medal to the Children of Gaza

by خانم هاشمی September 12, 2024

Inspiring Story of a 15-Year-Old Paralympic Medalist

Everyone thought Zahra Rahimi’s silver medal at the Paris Paralympics was a fluke. It was hard to bet on a 15-year-old girl experiencing her first major competition. However, Rahimi proved her doubters wrong, securing Iran’s first-ever women’s para-taekwondo medal in the history of the games.

After winning gold at the Asian Championships, Rahimi was confident she could also medal at the Paralympics. Although she aimed for gold in Paris and ended up with silver, she assures that she will win three gold medals in future competitions.

Beyond the Medal: Rahimi’s Dedication to Gaza’s Children

Rahimi’s main concern isn’t Olympic gold; she’s more focused on children with disabilities and those in Gaza. She has dedicated her medal to the children of Gaza and plans to use her prize money to establish a robotics company that will provide free prosthetics for disabled children.

Zahra Rahimi Dedicates Her Medal to the Children of Gaza

Did you expect to win a medal before going to Paris?

Yes, I did. I worked hard for this medal and believed in my abilities. This medal is very valuable to me, although I wished it were gold.

You had high expectations; did you only think about winning gold?

Yes, my phone’s wallpaper was even a picture of the Paris gold medal. Now I have silver but am motivated for gold in the next Olympics.

Motivation and Support

Where does your confidence come from?

My biggest supporter is God. I promised Him I’d perform my best at the Olympics. My mother is my second biggest supporter; her trust in me made me believe in myself.

Technically, were you ready for gold?

Based on my performance at the Asian Championships, I knew I could win an Olympic medal. Unfortunately, an injury before the final and facing a more experienced opponent cost me the gold.

How did you start taekwondo?

I’ve been practicing taekwondo since I was seven because I’m interested in martial arts and wanted an Olympic-suitable sport.

How do others treat you given your condition?

Some differences sometimes bothered me, but I focused on my training and ignored them. Now I’ve won an Olympic medal while they haven’t achieved anything significant.

Besides the medal, what else was valuable to you in Paris?

The happiness of my parents. When my mother called, she spoke with excitement and tears, giving me a special feeling of joy. My mother had always wished for a banner in the streets of our city for me, and now the streets are filled with banners and photos celebrating my competition and medal. My main motivation is to make my parents proud and do something that brings them honor.

a vow to Imam

Are you very attached to your family?

I love them very much. Before going to the Olympics, we were taken to the shrine of Imam Reza (AS). I made a vow there that if I won a medal at the Olympics, I would bring my parents to the shrine.

Were you training under the Taekwondo Federation or the Federation for Veterans and Disabled for Paris?

Mr. Saei and the Taekwondo Federation supported me greatly. They did everything necessary for us.

Did the large scale of the Olympics affect your performance?

I am not stressed and am very calm; I never pay attention to the atmosphere of the venue. I know how to calm myself down. Rather than seeing a psychologist, I trust myself more.

Dedication to Gaza

Why did you dedicate your medal to the children of Gaza?

Seeing their images and videos on social media—innocent children living in harsh conditions or being martyred—makes me very sad. I dedicated my medal to them so that they might be happy even if just for a moment.

If asked to do something for them, what would you do?

The only thing I can do is provide financial support.

You said that the best congratulatory message was from the President. Why was it the best—because he is from Tabriz?

No, just because he is our country’s President.

Your fellow citizens gave you an overwhelming welcome. Did you expect such a reception?

I knew they would welcome me like this. My fellow citizens and people from my province are very proud of their youth. I thank all of them.

Future Plans

What are your plans for the future? Besides aiming for the gold medal at the 2028 Paralympics, do you have any other plans?

I have a lot of work to do. First, I want to win three Paralympic gold medals. After achieving these medals, I will retire from professional sports. My field of study is mathematics, and I intend to pursue programming. With the rewards from these medals, I plan to start a robotics company, design and build prosthetic limbs, and provide them for free to children in need.

Message for Those with Physical Challenges

Those who have physical challenges often find it very difficult to integrate into society, let alone pursue sports or continue in professional sports. What message do you have for them?

Be yourself and love yourself as you are. If we strive hard, we can even surpass those who are physically normal. I tell them not to underestimate.

hamshahrionline.ir

September 12, 2024 0 comment

Asia

Japan Takes a Stand: New Uniform Tech Protects Athlete Privacy

by faeze mohammadi July 31, 2024

Japan’s Olympic athletes are set to compete in a new era of privacy after the introduction of high-tech uniforms designed to thwart intrusive photography

Japan’s commitment to athlete privacy has taken a significant step forward with the introduction of new fabric technology in this year’s Olympic uniforms. The material is designed to absorb infrared light, effectively rendering it invisible to night vision cameras.

This groundbreaking move comes in response to a disturbing trend of privacy violations during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Numerous female athletes fell victim to the unauthorized distribution of compromising photos. The issue of inappropriate photography and its exploitation has been a persistent problem in Japan, but this technological advancement offers a promising solution.

By prioritizing the protection of its athletes, particularly women, Japan is setting a powerful example for the global sports community. It’s a step in the right direction towards creating a safer and more respectful environment for all athletes.

From: Unseen Japan

July 31, 2024 0 comment

Europe

Olympics camera operators urged to avoid ‘sexism’ in filming female athletes

by faeze mohammadi July 30, 2024

Head of Olympic Broadcasting Services says women are still shot in a different way to men due to ‘unconscious bias’.

The official Olympics broadcaster has urged camera operators to film male and female athletes in the same way to avoid “stereotypes and sexism” creeping into the coverage.

The Paris Olympics are the first in the 128-year history of the modern Games to reach gender parity among athletes, with women’s sport also given more prime-time broadcast spots to help raise its profile.

With the Games now in full swing, the head of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) said his organisation had updated its guidelines for camera operators, most of whom are men. OBS is responsible for the TV coverage of the Olympics, with its images shared with rights holders around the world.

“Unfortunately, in some events they [women] are still being filmed in a way that you can identify that stereotypes and sexism remains, even from the way in which some camera operators are framing differently men and women athletes,” the OBS chief executive, Yiannis Exarchos, told reporters in Paris.

“Women athletes are not there because they are more attractive or sexy or whatever. They are there because they are elite athletes.”

He said the problem was mainly down to “unconscious bias”, with camera operators and TV editors tending to show more closeup shots of women than men.

A number of scheduling changes have been made by Olympics organisers in Paris to boost women’s sport. The women’s marathon is to be the final event of the Games instead of the men’s race.

“The schedules of sporting events have traditionally been biased towards highlighting men’s events,” Exarchos said. “Traditionally, in team sports, you have first women’s finals, and then the men’s final … In strength and combat sports, traditionally you have women’s competitions in the morning and men’s competitions in the afternoon.”

Marie Sallois, the director in charge of gender equality at the International Olympic Committee, said the Paris Games were “de facto the world’s largest platform to promote gender equality in and through sport”.

She pointed to “symbolic moments” in the opening ceremony on Friday, with almost all delegations having a male and a female flag carrier, while the artistic show paid tribute to influential women in French history.

When the ancient Greek Olympics concept was revived by the French aristocrat Pierre de Coubertin in the late 19^th century, he saw it as a celebration of gentlemanly athleticism “with female applause as its reward”.

In 1924, the last time the Olympics were held in Paris, just 4% of competitors were women and they were restricted to sports considered “suitable” for them, such as swimming, tennis and croquet.

From: Guardian

July 30, 2024 0 comment