Iranian Taekwondo Star Arian Salimi Finds Inspiration in Cristiano Ronaldo

According to SAEDNEWS, Iranian taekwondo champion Arian Salimi has revealed that his journey to Olympic gold was greatly inspired by the relentless work ethic of football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. In a recent interview, Salimi expressed, "Being an Olympic champion is really an indescribable feeling."

From a young age, Salimi has been passionate about football and has always been an admirer of Ronaldo. He shared, "I would love to meet Ronaldo in person and tell him that I won the gold medal motivated by his success."

Salimi clinched the gold medal in the +80 kg category at the Paris Olympics after triumphing over his British opponent. His victory is particularly remarkable given his challenging childhood; he battled a rare form of rheumatoid arthritis that left many doctors doubtful about his future.

Salimi's inspiring story is a testament to his determination and the influence of role models like Cristiano Ronaldo in the world of sports.

Sports3 Interview with Arian Salimi

* What does it feel like to be an Olympic champion?

- Being an Olympic champion is truly an indescribable feeling. It feels so good that I can’t accurately describe it. I hope anyone who dreams of achieving such an honor can also reach it. After achieving this honor, I am only grateful to God for making this happen.

* Can you describe the morning after you became a champion? When you woke up, did you fear that it was all just a dream?

- I couldn’t sleep until morning. It was due to both the pain from my broken hand and my overwhelming happiness. I spent the whole night talking with my family and friends, and it was really beautiful moments. After the championship, I rode my bicycle a bit in the Olympic Village, but with my hand injury, I couldn’t enjoy it much. It felt really amazing. The next morning, I managed to sleep for two or three hours. When I woke up, I saw my medal beside me on the bed, and it was truly a wonderful feeling.

* You mentioned that the background on your phone was a picture of your Olympic gold medal. How much did you think about achieving that goal when you chose that image?

- Yes, we planned a lot. Not just me, but the technical team and the Taekwondo Federation were really united and worked according to a plan. This was our goal. In my interviews, I said that winning the Olympic gold was unpredictable; no one can predict their own performance, but we did our best and did everything we could, and fortunately, we succeeded.

* In a video before the competitions, your father spoke about your childhood when you suffered from rheumatism and your legs locked up. Do you remember that period? What happened to you?

- I was very young, so I don’t remember many things. The only thing I recall is the very strange, difficult, and painful treatments. I remember trying hard to take two or three steps but couldn’t. I spent a long time hospitalized and had many bad memories, but fortunately, everything ended well.

* Which city in Kermanshah are you from?

- I am from the city of Kermanshah.

* What made you choose this specific sport? Typically, children tend to gravitate towards football, but you chose taekwondo.

- I was interested in football since childhood and played football from the age of five after recovering from my illness. I had taken a year off for treatment. I was really passionate about football and Ronaldo. After three or four years, around the age of nine, I added taekwondo to my activities and have pursued both sports simultaneously since then. I was very fond of taekwondo uniforms, which made me decide to try the sport. At the same time, I played football and practiced taekwondo. Both sports were appealing to me.

* Your opponent, Kaden Cunningham, praised you a lot and said in an interview that he told his coach he wished to fight you in the final. Did you feel the same way?

- Kaden Cunningham is a skilled and respected taekwondo athlete. He showed great sportsmanship. Even on the weighing day, I told him that we would meet in the final. The fact that he told his coach he would meet me in the final might be because of what I said during the weigh-in, as I thought he would come to the final from the opposite side of the bracket. There was mutual respect between us, and it was an interesting match. He even bantered respectfully. We are both young; he is 21 years old, and I am 20. I’m glad that our final match was well-received by the people.

* Cunningham mentioned, “I spoke to you immediately after our match and said, ‘Brother, you and I have to fight again.' I am just as proud of him for his victory, and of course, I want to win too. I think he and I can train together and elevate each other’s levels.” What are your thoughts on his comments?

- Right after the match, we spoke, and while we were preparing for the medal distribution, we discussed future training sessions. We would love to train together in different camps in various countries. I hope he can come to Iran, and I can go to England so we can elevate each other’s skills. The one who is more focused on the day of the match will win. I think this would be very interesting and beneficial.

* After your matches, you raise your opponents' hands and show them respect. This gesture has received a lot of attention. Why do you do this?

- This behavior is inspired by the champions and heroes of Iran and the world, who always value respect and fair play and fought valiantly against their opponents. I have always wanted to treat my rivals with respect. We are all human, and our competition in taekwondo lasts only a few minutes when I have to try to defeat my opponent, but afterward, we should become friends and build camaraderie. Even if I am not friends with my opponent, I must still respect them.

* Your Ronaldo-style celebrations have also garnered attention. You mentioned that every time you did that celebration, you would win a silver medal, but when you defeated Ivan Sapina and did that celebration, you broke the curse and won gold. Tell us about that celebration.

- The first time I did that celebration was after a match where I won a Grand Slam gold medal, and it was instinctive. After that, I wanted to consciously repeat that move every time. However, every time I planned to do that celebration, I ended up taking home silver. I tried several times, but I just couldn’t reach gold. This time, after receiving my medal, I did that celebration, and fortunately, I won gold. In the semifinal match, I suddenly decided to do that move, and this time I hadn’t planned it either.

* Why did you choose Ronaldo as a role model?

- I have loved Ronaldo since childhood. His behavior, character, and performance during matches are very appealing to me. On the days when I would wake up early to go to football school, I would watch the goals Ronaldo scored the night before on the morning news. This motivated me even more. The feeling that Ronaldo has gives me motivation. He is truly a beloved role model.

* Ronaldo is supposed to come to Iran twice to play against Esteghlal and Persepolis. Would you like to see him?

- Now that I have achieved this success, I would really love to meet Ronaldo and tell him how much he has inspired me, hoping that he feels good too. It is also valuable for me to meet him. Perhaps before the Olympics, I wasn’t too curious about meeting Ronaldo, but now it’s different. If that happens, I would be very happy.

* You mentioned that you are a Persepolis fan. How much do you follow Iranian football?

- Currently, I follow football less and focus 100% on my own sport. However, I do keep up with some important matches like the Euros, World Cup, or Asian Cup. I have been a Persepolis fan since childhood, but I also like Esteghlal and admire their fans, believing this rivalry and sport lasts only for 90 minutes; during that time, we can support our favorite team. After that, we should respect each other, and no insults should be exchanged. Football is just a competition, and being a fan only adds to its excitement. Overall, during Asian competitions, I support both Esteghlal and Persepolis.

* At one time, Shirin Faraz Kermanshah was in the Iranian Premier League but quickly fell and disappeared from the nation's football scene. Do you hope a team from Kermanshah returns to the Premier League?

- Yes, I have seen Shirin Faraz play a few times, though the team no longer exists. I really hope a team from Kermanshah returns to the Premier League. It would make me incredibly happy to see a good team from my city back in the league.

* After Kianoush Rostami, you are the second Kermanshahi to win a gold medal. How have the reactions been in your hometown?

- Kianoush Rostami, with one gold and one silver Olympic medal, is truly a respected individual, and I have a lot of admiration for him. After the Olympic final match, he congratulated me, and I thanked him in return. This shows he has a great spirit and doesn’t harbor jealousy; instead, he appreciates seeing someone from Kermanshah rise to a champion's position. If there’s any issue preventing him from continuing his career, I hope it gets resolved so he can return to the fields and we can witness his achievements for our country again.