Iranian Paralympic Champion Receives Medal from Jackie Chan

On the first day of the official opening of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, 15-year-old Zahra Rahimi won a silver medal in para-taekwondo. The first medal for the Iranian sports delegation at this year's Paralympics was awarded to Ms. Rahimi by Jackie Chan, the renowned cinema and martial arts star. Zahra Rahimi is the youngest athlete representing Iran at the Paris Paralympics. After defeating opponents from China, Brazil, and Georgia, she faced Surenjav Olambaier from Mongolia in the final match, ultimately losing with a score of five to two and securing the silver medal. In a message to this athlete, President Masoud Pezeshkian congratulated her, stating: 'This is just the beginning; you have learned the path to success, keep going. Be happy and victorious.' Iranian female athletes in taekwondo have previously made headlines, including Nahid Kiani, who made history by winning the first Olympic silver medal for women in Iran at the Paris Olympics. Before her, Kimia Alizadeh had made her mark as the first Iranian woman to win an Olympic medal with a bronze in 2016. Jackie Chan, the famous Hong Kong star who has also acted in Hollywood, attended the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games and was one of the torchbearers in the streets of Paris. In addition to acting, directing, and producing, Chan was also a stuntman and gained worldwide fame in the 1970s with Hong Kong cinema. He later transitioned to Hollywood and received an honorary Oscar in 2016 for his achievements. At 70 years old, Chan is considered one of the busiest actors in cinema history, having appeared in over 150 films.