Swimming · International
World Aquatics highlights refugee swimmers’ continued careers
Matin Balsini and Hannaneh Afshar featured in the federation’s World Refugee Day update.
Source publication date:
World Aquatics marked World Refugee Day on 20 June by highlighting its Aquatics Refugee Team and two swimmers continuing their careers after displacement. The programme gives athletes a route to international participation from their new host countries.
Matin Balsini, born in Iran, sought asylum in the United Kingdom in 2022 and represented the Refugee Olympic Team at Paris 2024. The federation described him as a two-time Olympian and the first Iranian swimmer to break two minutes in the men’s 200m butterfly.
Hannaneh Afshar moved from Iran to Dubai and later obtained refugee status in Brazil. World Aquatics identified her as the second female refugee swimmer selected for its team, following Yusra Mardini. The report concerns access and career continuity, and does not attribute new race medals to either swimmer.
Sources
Check the original record.
Open the governing body or organiser’s publication for the underlying result, decision or tournament update.