Hashemiyeh Motaghian Moavi

Started: She took up Para athletics at age 23 in Ahvaz, Islamic Republic of Iran. (qudsonline.ir, 11 Sep 2017; shamdani.com, 16 Feb 2015) Reason: She played sitting volleyball for three years before a local Para athletics coach and her sitting volleyball coach encouraged her to go to a Para athletics tryout. "Once I gave it a go, I really enjoyed javelin and discus. I felt I only had to rely on myself in these disciplines." (isna.ir, 15 Oct 2020) Milestones: She became the first female Iranian to win a Paralympic gold medal in athletics when she triumphed in the women's F56 javelin at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. (SportsDeskOnline, 21 Jul 2024) Awards: In 2022 she was named Female Athlete of the Year by the Iranian Sport Journalists Association. (paralympic.ir, 09 Jan 2023) Additional Info: WINNING GOLD IN TOKYO She finished fourth in women's F56 javelin throw on her Paralympic debut at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. She used the disappointment of missing a spot on the podium as fuel ahead of the 2020 Games in Tokyo, where she went on to win gold. "Rio was my first Games, but I was so close to winning a medal there. I didn't want to miss out on it again in Tokyo. I gave my everything out there. I would say all my hard work paid off. You don't know how much this gold means to me and my family and the country as a whole. Most of us complain about what we have lost or about our physical disabilities. I would say if you are mentally strong then you can achieve anything. The first thing that one needs to do is get that sadness out of your life and find ways to move on and excel. The will to do something and be happy and cheerful is most important." (paralympic.org, 01 Sep 2021)