Iran Secures 21st Place at 2024 Paris Olympics: A Journey of Determination and Achievement

According to SAEDNEWS, As the Olympic Games concluded with a stunning display of athletic prowess, it was the U.S. that topped the medals table, finishing with 40 golds. China closely trailed in gold medals, also securing 40; however, the U.S. edged out China for the top spot thanks to their impressive haul of 44 silver medals. In total, the U.S. garnered 126 medals, while China followed with 91.

Despite the intense competition from global powerhouses, Iranian athletes made significant strides, climbing six spots in the medal standings compared to the previous Tokyo Games. Team Iran celebrated a commendable finish, claiming three gold medals, six silvers, and three bronzes.

Highlights from Iranian Wrestling

The Iranian Greco-Roman wrestling team, led by the talented Hassan Rangraz, showcased their strength and skill, securing two gold medals, along with one silver and one bronze. Saeid Esmaeli, the youngest member of the Iranian team, turned heads when he clinched gold in the 67kg final, defeating Ukraine’s Parviz Nasibov with a nail-biting 6-5 score. His remarkable maturity and technique demonstrated that age is just a number.

Veteran wrestler Mohammadhadi Saravi also made headlines by defeating Armenia’s Artur Aleksanyan 4-1 to secure a gold medal in the men's Greco-Roman 97kg category. However, Alireza Mohmadi faced tough competition, ending up with a silver after losing in the 87kg final to Bulgarian Semen Novikov 7-0. Meanwhile, Amin Mirzazadeh added to Iran's medal tally, earning bronze in the heavyweight category after defeating Azerbaijan’s Sabah Shariati 3-0.

In freestyle wrestling, Hassan Yazdani had a challenging but commendable showing, taking home a silver medal in the 86kg category. Despite beginning the match with a shoulder injury that forced him to seek medical help multiple times, he demonstrated resilience but ultimately lost to Bulgarian Magomed Ramazanov 7-1. This medal marked Yazdani's third Olympic medal, following his gold in 2016 and silver in Tokyo.

Amirhossein Zare contributed to Iran’s success with another silver, narrowly losing to Georgia's Geno Petriashvili 10-9 in the men’s 125kg final. Additionally, Rahman Amouzad secured Iran's third silver after being defeated by Japan’s Kotaro Kiyooka 10-3 in the 65kg final.

In an exciting turn of events, Amirali Azarpira claimed Iran’s only bronze in freestyle wrestling, overcoming American Kyle Snyder 4-1.

Success in Taekwondo

Iran also found glory in taekwondo, finishing with one gold, two silvers, and one bronze medal. Arian Salimi emerged victorious in the men's +80kg final, defeating Britain’s Caden Cunningham 2-1 to capture gold. Mehran Barkhordari battled hard but settled for silver in the men's 80kg, falling to Tunisia’s Firas Katoussi 2-0 in the final.

The achievements didn't stop there; Iranian women made history as well. Nahid Kiani excelled in the women's -57kg taekwondo category to claim silver, losing to Kim Yu-jin from South Korea 2-0, while Mobina Nematzadeh secured a bronze medal by defeating a Saudi Arabian opponent 2-0 in the women’s 49kg taekwondo match.

A Proud Moment for Iran

With an array of medals and commendable performances, Team Iran made its mark on the Olympic stage. Their achievements not only represent personal triumphs but also inspire a sense of pride and achievement within the nation. As Iran's athletes continued to break barriers and set records, we stand with them, celebrating their hard work and dedication on the global platform.