Iran pays tribute to Siamand Rahman’s legacy

Four-day National Competition and series of events mark the first anniversary of the passing of two-time Paralympic champion 02 Mar 2021
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A group of three men in wheelchairs and five standing men on a stage
Iran's best Para powerlifters competed in Tehran to honour the memory of Siamand Rahman, one of the country's greatest Paralympians
ⒸNPC Iran
By Filip Ozbolt | For World Para Powerlifting

To honour the memory of Siamand Rahman and celebrate the legacy of one of the all-time greatest Paralympians, there could be no more appropriate way than a Para powerlifting competition named after him in his home country Iran. 

The four-day National Competition in the Memory of the Legendary Champion Siamand Rahman ended on Tuesday (2 March) in Tehran with a special ceremony marking the first anniversary of his passing. Organised by the Iranian National Paralympic Committee (NPC Iran), the event saw 82 female and male athletes in action.

Among the biggest stars of the competition, which was broadcast live on national TV, were Nur-Sultan 2019 world champions Rouhollah Rostami and Seyedhamed Solhipouravanji. 

The week of tributes to acknowledge Rahman’s legacies included the unveiling of a special section dedicated to his achievements at Iran’s National Museum of Sports, with the presence of NPC Iran President Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa. 

The closing ceremony of the National Para Powerlifting Competition also marked the launch of a song composed in the Rahman’s honour.

“Siamand Rahman is a unique role model for all of us in terms of manner and ethics in sport, and, also being hardworking in the face of difficulties. His name brings some of the most outstanding values to mind like determination and will for achieving the goals and success,” NPC Iran said in a statement.

“There could not be a more special way to remember Siamand Rahman than a celebration of the sport he loved,” Jorge Moreno, Head of World Para Powerlifting said. “It was great to see Paralympic medallists, world champions and young athletes coming together to honour one of the greatest Para powerlifters we have ever seen. His life and triumphs are an inspiration to many athletes, not only in Iran but all over the world.”

Siamand Rahman died on 1 March 2020, at the age of 32, due to a cardiac arrest. Since then, a series of events have been organised in Iran to pay tribute to the two-time Paralympic champion. 

In May last year, a giant bust with a brief history of Rahman’s career was unveiled at the entrance of his hometown Oshnavieh, in the northwest of the country.

The Para powerlifting superstar started his international career in 2008 winning the gold medal at the IWAS Junior World Games in the USA.

His most memorable sporting achievements came in 2012 and 2016 when Rahman won two gold medals at the Paralympic Games in London and Rio, respectively. At Rio 2016, the Iranian became the first Paralympian to break the 300kg barrier with an amazing lift of 310kg in the men’s over 107kg final.

The Iranian legend was also a three-time world champion (Dubai 2014, Mexico City 2017 and Nur-Sultan 2019) and three-time Asian Para Games gold medallist (Guangzhou 2010, Incheon 2014 and Indonesia 2018).