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Saeid Fazloula

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Saeid Fazloula
Personal information
NationalityIranian
Born (1992-08-09) 9 August 1992 (age 32)
Bandar-e Anzali, Iran
Sport
SportCanoe sprint
Medal record
Men's canoe sprint
Representing  Iran
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2014 Incheon K2 1000 m
Asian Championships
Silver medal – second place 2013 Samarkand K2 500 m
Silver medal – second place 2013 Samarkand K2 1000 m
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Tehran K2 1000 m
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Samarkand K2 200 m

Saeid Fazloula (Persian: سعید فضل‌اله; born 9 August 1992) is an Iranian retired canoeist who now lives in Germany after fleeing Iran in 2015. He competed in the men's K-1 1000 metres event at the 2020 Summer Olympics and as well as at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Both times, he represented the IOC Refugee Olympic Team (ROT), being the first canoeist on the ROT. Previously, while representing Iran, he was a silver medalist at the Asian Championships and the 2014 Asian Games.

Career

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Fazloula won several silver medals at the Asian Canoeing Championships while competing for Iran.[1] In 2014, he won a silver medal at the 2014 Asian Games.[2]

In 2015, he took a photo in front of Milan Cathedral. When he returned home, he was detained, accused of having converted to Christianity, and threatened with the death penalty. Fazloula chose to flee Iran and made his way through the Balkans to Germany.[2]

Fazloula adjusted to life in Germany with the help of fellow canoeists, including his coach Detlef Hofmann. Due to his prior success while competing for Iran, his official situation was complicated, and his case caused the International Canoe Federation to change their rules to account for athletes who were forced to leave their country.[1]

At the 2018 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, he and Kostja Stroinski placed 8th in the men's K-2 500 metres.[3]

In June 2021, he was named to the Refugee Olympic Team.[1] He competed in the men's K-1 1000 metres even at the 2020 Summer Olympics. There he advanced to the quarterfinals and placed fourth in his section with a time of 3:52.614.[4]

Speaking about his position on the Refugee Olympic Team, he said, "It's just sad that we are 120 million refugees around the world because of false polity, because of war, because of religions, skin color," but added that he was proud to represent refugees and show that "we are many athletes, we are many doctors, we are many architects".[5]

Fazloula also competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics, again as a member of the Refugee Olympic Team. He finished fourth in his quarterfinal of the men's K-1 1000 meters event. He announced that it was his last race and he was retiring from competition.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Browne, Ken (6 June 2021). "Introducing Saeid Fazloula: The refugee canoe sprinter powering towards the Tokyo Olympics". Olympics.com. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  2. ^ a b Bathke, Benjamin (6 May 2021). "Iranian refugee makes Olympic dream reality". DW. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Start List/Results K2 Men 500". timetable.canoesprintportugal.com. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Men's Kayak Single 1000m: Results Summary by Event" (PDF). Tokyo 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  5. ^ Roberts, Kit (15 August 2024). "Olympic athlete who competed without a country explains why he did it". UNILAD. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  6. ^ Bible, Aaron (7 August 2024). "Two-Time Olympic Canoeist Saeid Fazloula To Retire After Paris Games". Paddling Life. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
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