I am Saman Soltani, an Olympic canoe sprint athlete, speaker, and coach. My journey is that of a woman who had to start over, more than once, refusing to give up on her dreams.

Born in Iran, I grew up in high-performance sports: first as a national champion in artistic swimming, then as a kayak athlete, where I won several national titles and a silver medal at the U23 Asian Championships.

In 2022, my life changed dramatically. Unable to return to Iran, I was granted asylum in Austria. There, I rebuilt my career from the ground up, ultimately earning selection to the IOC Refugee Olympic Team for the Paris 2024 Games, a dream made possible through resilience and unwavering determination.

In 2025, I obtained Austrian citizenship and now continue my athletic career from France, where I became French champion the same year. My ambition is clear: to qualify for and compete at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, while developing initiatives that inspire, empower, and bring people together.

Beyond athletic performance, I aim to use my story and expertise to support companies, young people, and organizations by sharing the values that have guided me: courage, discipline, leadership, teamwork, and the ability to rise again.