(2021 Getty Images)
Luna Solomon is a beacon of hope for refugees.
Three years ago, she represented millions of displaced people when she participated in Olympic sport shooting at Tokyo 2020.
In an exclusive interview with Olympics.com, Solomon revealed the message she told herself when she first became an Olympian.
“I said to myself: ‘As refugees, we too have the right to take part in the Games, we’re human beings like everyone else, we’re not animals,’” she told us.
“I was very touched by the team of refugee athletes. We were all together like a family, we got on well, we laughed, we chatted – it was a beautiful image for all the refugees in the world.”
Fast forward to Paris 2024, and now Luna wants to continue being a role model for those who are where she has been.
“In Paris, I want to be an example for refugees, to pass on the message of courage,” Luna said.
On her message to them, she adds: “You have to be patient and courageous.
“Hold on to your dreams [and] never say ‘I can’t do it’.
“If you think positively and work hard, you will always make it.”
Luna Solomon competing at Tokyo 2020.
When Luna made the decision to flee her homeland, she didn’t tell her family.
She had heard about others going to Europe, and one night she met up with people in her neighborhood to embark on a similar path.
“It was a really hard journey, we risked dying,” she revealed.
“It lasted 10 days, we had almost nothing to eat or drink – just to stay alive, we had to drink a tiny amount of water a day. A lot of people died on the way.”
But for Solomon, the worst was yet to come once they had arrived in Libya.
For the then 20-year-old, looking out on the sea she had to cross, it was the worst day of her life.
“The boat was so small and unsecured, there were about 750 of us in it [and] it was really tough.
“After 12 hours of sailing, the Italian police came to rescue us. I was reassured to be alive.”
Now 30, the mother of one has been residing in Switzerland since 2015 – but it hasn't been without its challenges, away from her family and unable to speak the language, Luna talked about how she was ‘sad all the time’.
“My dad died when I arrived here, life was really difficult for me and I thought my life was over.
“I wondered why I'd left my country, why I hadn’t stayed with my family… I regretted it.”
It marked a challenging chapter in Luna’s life, but not one that defined her.
Solomon takes aim in training at Tokyo 2020.
Aghast at the thought of ever participating in shooting, it is almost hard for Luna to believe she has built such a wonderful career in this sport.
After arriving in Switzerland, she wanted to channel her energy and efforts into taking up a sport.
But when three-time Olympic shooting champion Niccolo Campriani wanted to meet her and discuss the prospect of taking this particular one up, Solomon was opposed to it.
“I said: ‘Sport shooting? Shooting isn’t for sport, it’s for killing people!’
“For the first three months, I didn’t feel at ease [but] Nicco worked very hard, he was very patient and supported me all the time.
“In the end, whenever I missed a day of training I missed it, I started to enjoy the sport.”
It wasn’t just a case of enjoying it, though, Luna’s scores began to improve and she became somewhat of a mainstay in the top three when she started competing.
“I thought to myself that this was incredible, I never in my life thought I’d become an athlete.”
Yet that is exactly what she is, and a committed one at that.
Her weekends are dominated by training while she continues to study and also raise her four-year-old soon.
Luna wants to be an example in Paris, yet she is already a symbol of hope to millions.