Refugee Canoeist Saman Soltani Earns Austrian Citizenship

A former refugee athlete who competed at the Paris 2024 Olympics now races under a new flag, proving that dreams can survive even the hardest detours.

Saman Soltani, 29, was a ten-time national artistic swimming champion in Iran before switching to canoe sprint to compete internationally. When COVID-19 dashed her Tokyo 2020 dreams, she returned to artistic swimming and attended an event in Barcelona in 2022.

Fearing for her safety after posting images of herself on social media, she fled to Austria with just one contact in Europe. The country that gave her refuge also reignited her athletic career.

She took up canoeing again and earned a spot on the IOC Refugee Olympic Team for Paris 2024. Though she didn't advance past the quarter-finals in the women's K1 500m, the experience transformed her purpose.

"I always say the team of no one and also the team of everyone," Soltani explained. "It's a gift to be on that team and to be able to fight not only for yourself, but for everyone who has the same challenges."

In May 2025, Austria granted Soltani citizenship. She competed in her first World Cup races as an Austrian team member in 2026, bringing the same fierce determination that carried her through years of uncertainty.

After the Olympics, Soltani struggled with post-competition blues and spent two months questioning her identity and goals. A life-coaching opportunity with Allianz helped her find clarity.

She discovered her true passion: motivating others through her story. Soltani now delivers keynote speeches and created a website to share her message with refugees, women, and anyone facing difficult times.

Why This Inspires

Soltani's journey spans three flags but tells one story of refusing to give up. Her identity remains rooted in Iran, where she learned to compete and won her first international medals.

Austria saved her life and gave her the chance to dream again. France provided training opportunities between her citizenship approval. Each chapter built on the last.

"Even when you face a very big challenge in your life, you are able to build the life you wanted and you're able to follow your dreams," she reflected. "You have to dream big."

She's already setting her sights on LA28, declaring she owes herself an Olympic medal after everything she's overcome. But the medals she's earning now come from helping others believe in possibilities.

Her message resonates beyond the athletic world: life continues after breakdown, and standing up again is always an option.

"I want to tell the world that everything is possible," Soltani said, embodying the retired California tourism slogan as she prepares for the 2028 Games in that very state.