The Fighter

"My biggest fear is (to) say, 'I wish I did it.'"

Kavan Majidi grew up in the Kurdistan region of Iran. While he was committed to gymnastics starting at age 12, Majidi eventually found his way to Judo at the recommendation of his gymnastics coach. After watching the instructor throw people around on the mat, Majidi felt he found his calling.

“I say, ‘Here you go, that’s my sport, that’s what I want to do,’” he recalled. “I want to throw people.”

However, when in 2019, Majidi could no longer participate in events run by Judo’s world governing body from his home country, he had to decide to leave his home or give up his passion. At the reluctance of his family, in the summer of 2020, Majidi trekked 3,000 miles to Glasgow, Scotland, mostly on foot.

As a refugee with no friends or resources, Majidi was determined to make a name for himself in Judo. While on a run, he passed by CrossFit Glasgow and watched a group class. Curious, he walked in.

Knowing nothing about his background, CrossFit Glasgow co-owner Iain Barbour treated Majidi as he would any other prospective member. “We had no idea about his story, we had no idea how far he traveled to get here,” Barbour said. “It was only a little bit further down the line … that we realized that he was here as a refugee and he had nowhere and nobody. We had facilities, so we offered him the space.”

So, Majidi began training. Except for a few special Judo training camps, CrossFit was his only method of training to prepare for Judo. After earning a spot on the International Judo Federation’s Refugee Team, he became an IOC Refugee Athlete Scholarship holder and hopes to represent the Refugee Olympic Team in Paris 2024.

“You have to be your hero in your life,” Majidi says. “You have to be.”

Majidi will find out if he qualified for the Refugee Olympic Team in April. Join us in cheering him on by commenting or sharing his story. Stay tuned for updates.

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