stonisi.gr | 1st August 2024
Editor: Anthi Pazianou
From Afghanistan, to Lesvos and to the Olympic Refugee Team in Paris!
Amir Ansari's journey from Lesvos to Paris is full of sacrifices, struggles and triumphs - A reminder that with determination and perseverance, you can approach utopia
Amir Ansari, a young cyclist from Afghanistan, is a living example of courage, determination and perseverance. His story begins when he had to flee his homeland due to the constant war and persecution of his ethnic group, the Hazara, and goes through Lesbos. Today, at the age of 24, Amir is in Sweden and has managed to win a place on the Olympic Refugee Team for the Games currently taking place in Paris.
Amir was born in 1999 in Iran, where his family had fled due to the persecution of the Hazara people by the Taliban. In 2009, his family returned to Afghanistan, hoping for a more stable life. But the conflict and violence continued, and in 2015 his mother decided that Amir should leave to find safety and a better life in Europe.
His journey was full of dangers. After reaching the western coast of Turkey, Amir boarded an overloaded inflatable boat with dozens of other refugees. The journey to Lesbos was dangerous and uncertain, but he managed to arrive safely. In the Moria camp, he stayed for some time, living in difficult conditions and trying to find a way to continue his journey to northern Europe.
In search of a new life
Amir never lost his passion for cycling. In Greece, he met American activist and cyclist Shannon Galpin, who helped him to continue training and gave him the psychological support he needed to keep going. With her help and his determination, he finally made it to Sweden, where he started a new life.
Read more >>>