Refugee Track and Field Athlete Unveils His Childhood “Idol” Through His Inspiring Journey From Syria’s War Zones to Germany’s Promised Land

A refugee athlete from Syria is currently training in Berlin with dreams of soaring high in the 2024 Paris Olympics. After fleeing from his war-torn home country, he sought solace in Europe and found a renewed hope of rebuilding his life through track and field. Now, he has earned glory at the World Athletics Championships with an iconic debut performance.

Mohammad Amin Alsalami stepped into the National Athletics Centre in Budapest earlier this year with fire in his heart and determination in his eyes. Competing in the technical event in the long jump category, he came close to the 8-meter mark. During his time in the limelight, Alsalami was reminded of a certain important person from his childhood whom he had to leave behind in his dangerous hometown.

Alsalami revisiting a childhood hero

During his exclusive with Olympics.com, Mohammad Amin Alsalami revealed that his sports teacher in Aleppo pushed him into track and field. He said, “My first coach was a long and triple jumper. He was my idol and he persuaded me to get into [it].” His observant teacher spotted his talent early on and recommended he compete in Aleppo schools’ championships.

As a pupil athlete, he earned many accolades in his hometown. The young Alsalami scored the highest jump in the triple jump event and also came second in the long jump event. Only two months later, he also triumphed at the national schools championship in Syria in both triple jump and long jump. However, in a cruel twist of fate, political tensions started to crop up in 2011.

It prevented this rising track and field star from practicing his skills or participating in competitions. He relayed his difficulties in the Olympics.com interview, saying, “It was impossible to live a calm life…And I said to myself, ‘I need to go to Europe in order to lead a normal life'”. Germany was his final destination, but it took him many years to make the arduous journey to Berlin.

The courageous journey to Berlin

Mohammad Amin Alsalami first came to Turkey with his family members. However, the Turkish Government did not allow him to practice sports in their dominion. Saddened by this setback, Alsalami returned to Syria. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of his “idol” and pursued his college degree in Aleppo despite the turmoil. He became a sports teacher for a brief period, but then he moved to Damascus. There, he was allowed to participate in the Asian Championships, and he proved his mettle by making the podium in second place.

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He understood that in Syria, “Maintaining a peaceful existence was out of the question”. Therefore, he had to make the hard choice to relocate and chose Berlin as his new home. Upon reaching Berlin, he was not issued a visa. Thereafter, he resolved to acknowledge his refugee status freely.

Now, he plans to “reach the Olympic final” in 2024. It will help him assert the prowess and athletic skills of a refugee.

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