Paris 2024 Olympics: Refugee cyclist Amir Ansari overcomes despair to compete with best in the world
Refugee athlete Amir Ansari led out some of the best road cycling athletes in the world in the men’s time trial in what was a proud moment at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Saturday (27 July).
Ansari looked nervous as the slippery streets of Paris stretched out in front of him. But with each pedal stroke, the refugee rider appeared to savour the moment.
The 24-year-old cautiously navigated the first corner well aware of the dangers of the wet conditions after several crashes in the earlier women’s race.
The constant drizzle also affected the men’s event, but Ansari managed to race home unscathed in front of the Grand Palais.
Ansari finished in 30th place with a time of 40:26.14 to finish just over four minutes behind newly-crowned Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel of Belgium.
Making his Olympic debut completed a remarkable journey for Ansari who was born in the Islamic Republic of Iran and raised in Afghanistan. Ansari fled Afghanistan in 2015 before and sought refuge in Sweden. Eight years after taking up the sport, Ansari has found a family in the Stockholm Cycling Club.
Ansari has represented the club and the UCI Refugee Team at national and international championships in the time trial and road race competitions.
“It is a big honour and responsibility to be part of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team. I am one of those who made it to safety, but many lost their lives on the way,” he told the UN Refugee Agency ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“It feels good that I can represent them, and I hope I can do it in a way that makes them proud.”