For many, competing in the Olympic Games is the ultimate opportunity to represent their country. But what happens when you no longer have a country?
The refugee Olympic team at the opening ceremony of Paris 2024. (MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images)
One of the members of the Refugee Olympic Team is the Iranian canoeist Saeid Fazloula, who now lives in Germany.
Saeid had to flee his home country in 2015. His journey took him from Iran to Turkey and from there by boat on the dangerous crossing to Greece.
From there, Saeid traveled through Macedonia, Serbia and Austria before finally settling in Germany, where he continued his canoe training.
Saeid represented the refugee Olympic team for the first time in Tokyo, where his experiences were featured in the 2023 documentary We dare to dream by Syrian journalist and filmmaker Waad Al-Kateab.
Although he represented the German national team in 2018, Saeid was still ineligible to compete for Germany at the Olympic Games due to his immigration status.
It goes without saying that competing for the Iranian team is also out of the question for Saeid. Since his retirement, he has become a target both online and in the Iranian press.
Saeid at the premiere of We Dare To Dream, which showcased his experiences in Tokyo. (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)
He told UNILAD: “The rules say that after eight years you can apply for German citizenship. So I was not entitled to German citizenship and had no other choice. I will not paddle for Iran.”
Although he can no longer represent his home country, Saeid is proud to represent the more than 120 million displaced people around the world.
“It gave me peace and hope,” he said.
“If you paddle for Iran, you may represent 85 million, in Germany it’s 80 million. But we represent the more than 120 million refugees around the world, and that makes me happy.”
But Saeid inevitably also senses a bittersweet aspect and explains: “It is simply sad that because of wrong political ideas, because of wars, because of our religions and the color of our skin, we are 120 million refugees worldwide.”
Saeid at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021. (Tom Weller/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
“It made me sad, but happy at the same time.”
He added: “I think we did a good job. We have our first medal ever and that gives hope.”
The Olympian also hopes that his story will show the world what people like him who have fled their homeland are capable of.
He said: “There are not 120 million refugees – we are many athletes, we are many doctors, we are many architects.”
Although he will no longer run for Iran, Saeid said he still feels he can represent the Iranian people.
“I am Iranian. I was born in Iran, my heart beats for Iran,” he said. “We have no problem with the Iranian people, we all just have a problem with the Iranian government.”
Saeid even reconnected with a former teammate in Paris, saying: “I was in Paris with my old boat partner from Iran the whole time and we had a great time in Paris. And we were together every day, you know?”
Saeid will compete in the 1000-meter canoe sprint at Paris 2024. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
He added: “I get a lot of messages from Iranians saying, ‘You give us hope,’ and that makes me happy.”
“People don’t want war, people don’t need criticism of other countries. People just need peace.”
Participating in the Olympics is not the only change for Saeid since leaving Iran, as he now has a young son living in Germany.
But the athlete still misses his parents in Iran.
“I don’t have any parents here. Of course I have my own family here, but I am a family man,” he said, adding: “My parents live in Iran and I know how hard life is in Iran at the moment.”
Saeid also addressed his message to other refugees and displaced people around the world.
He said, “You can do it, never give up. If you don’t give up, you can achieve what you want. Stay strong. Believe in yourself. I did it, and if I did it, you can do it too.”
