Refugee kayaker Saman Soltani bows out in single 500m quarter-finals at Paris 2024 Olympics
Saman Soltani wanted to make her parents proud by kayaking at Paris 2024, and Wednesday 7 August was the day she did exactly that.
Representing the Refugee Olympic Team, the 28-year-old went in the women's kayak single 500m event at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, placing seventh in her heat.
With only the fastest two from each heat making the semi-finals directly, Soltani missed out, but had another go in the quarter-finals later on Wednesday, finishing sixth to bow out of the competition.
Soltani’s journey to the Olympics is remarkable**.**
She had been a national champion in the Islamic Republic of Iran at artistic swimming, but switched to paddling in pursuit of greater opportunities, winning a silver medal at the Asian U23 championships.
After being granted asylum in Austria, she was then persuaded to take up paddling again by friend Uwe Schlokat, who also contacted the Austrian Canoe Federation, sent them her CV, and told them about her story.
“In one second your life can change. It’s the hardest part of my life,” Soltani told the International Canoe Federation.
“When I get tired in my training, I just imagine them there, because it is so hard. I never know when I can see them again. I want to get to the Olympics so I can bring them here.
“Uwe was always beside me, he never let me get lonely. He is like my father, mother, brother, sister – he has been everything, but I want to see my family.
“It was so hard to integrate into this culture, I didn’t know anyone, I didn’t have any friends, but Uwe took me everywhere, he looked after me. I have everything from him. He treats me like he treats his sons.
“I owe my life to him. He was the reason I started paddling, he is the reason I am here – he is like a guru.”
From Iran to Austria to the Paris Olympic Games, Soltani then had the chance to represent 100 million refugees around the world.
“When I entered Austria, I had difficulties learning a new language, making new friends and integrating in that culture, but also to follow my dream, which was to participate at the Olympic Games," she told Olympics.com.
"Without the support of the IOC and the Olympic Refuge Foundation, it would not have been possible to make my dream happen.”
Soltani went 2:02.19 on her Olympic debut, but that did not mean her Games were over.
She went again in the third quarter-final, coming sixth with an improved time of 2:01.43.