Amir Rezanejad Hassanjani (born 18 January 2000) is an Iranian canoe slalomist. He competed as part of the IOC Refugee Team at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Amir Rezanejad Hassanjani |
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Born | January 18, 2000[1] |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Canoe slalom |
Early and personal life
editOriginally from Iran, he started canoeing at the young age of 7 years-old. He initially started with flat water canoeing before switching to canoe slalom. He fled the country in 2020 by walking for 16 days and nights through the mountains which border Iran and Turkey. He eventually settled in Augsburg, Germany where he now lives and trains. He is fluent in Farsi, Turkish, English and German.[2][3]
Career
editHe started his international career in 2015 and represented Iran at the 2017 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships.[4]
After a three years away from the sport he received clearance to compete as a refugee athlete in 2023.[5] He began to train with German coach Jurgen Koehler. He made his ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup debut in Augsburg in 2024.[6]
He was selected to be a member of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.[7][8]
References
edit- ^ "Amir Rezanejad". Eurosport. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Amir REZANEJAD HASSANJANI". Olympics.com. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Jenkins, Tom (25 September 2023). "Paddles and medals: Canoe Slalom World Championships – photo essay". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ de Villiers, Ockert (27 July 2024). "PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS: REFUGEE CANOEIST AMIR REZANEJAD HASSANJANI ELIMINATED IN HEATS BUT REALISES LIFE-LONG DREAM". Olympics.com. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "After three years of uncertainty, Amir Rezanejad is back on the water". canoeicf. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Refugee paddler wants Paris 2024 to be launch pad for career". canoeicf. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "The slalom has distributed all its places". francesjeux.com. July 9, 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Dziemianowicz, Joe (26 July 2024). "What Is the Refugee Olympic Team at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games?". nbc.com. Retrieved 28 July 2024.