Since childhood, I have loved wrestling – it’s the only sport I’ve ever followed closely. In my youth, while my peers could talk endlessly about football, I was merely a listener. To avoid feeling left out, I chose to support one of the country’s two major football clubs, just to share in the excitement and camaraderie during matches. I’m not sure why wrestling captivated me – perhaps it’s the heroic and combative essence embedded in its philosophy, something that resonates deeply with my personality. I can say that the idea of heroism and champion-building took root in my development. As the eldest son of a military family, with a father away at war during my childhood and teenage years, I felt the need to become the champion of my family’s life.

This past week, the victory of the great wrestler Hassan Yazdani brought national joy, and like everyone else, I felt proud and happy. But it also gave me a chance to reflect more deeply on how we, as individuals and as a nation, create and glorify our champions. Not long ago, another champion dominated our conversations – Ahmad Masoud, the valiant leader resisting the Taliban regime with his followers. And before him, there was another hero, and another before that…

I read somewhere that Hassan Yazdani is not just an athlete to us – he represents us all, fighting for his rights on the mat. Yazdani’s opponent was an American wrestler who had become a significant obstacle to our champion’s success. When Yazdani lost to him at the Olympics, we felt as if our dreams were shattered. Once again, it seemed that America – the symbol of lost opportunities and dreams – was about to crush us, this time on the wrestling mat. But this time, we defeated them.

In a previous piece, I mentioned my admiration for Japanese culture. One reflection of this is how closely I follow Japan-related content, including the Instagram page of the Japanese Embassy in Tehran. Three days ago, a simple post appeared on their page:

“This year, Dr. Syukuro Manabe, a Japanese physicist, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. This marks the 27th Nobel Prize received by Japanese scientists and the 12th Nobel Prize in Physics.”

I’m not trying to draw comparisons between sports and science – success in both fields is equally valuable. It was purely coincidental that this news coincided with our own wrestling victory. Of course, Japan recently hosted the Olympics, winning 58 medals and ranking third in the world. They also secured several medals in wrestling. My intention is not to compare Japan and Iran.

Rather, I want to reflect on Japan’s history. Years ago, Japan endured a devastating war, resulting in immense destruction and national defeat. Japan, once immersed in a culture of hero-worship – of Kamikazes and Samurais – was suddenly confronted with a grim reality. While Japan was busy glorifying its heroes, the global social and economic advancements of its rivals turned Japan into a defeated nation.

Japan rose from the ashes when the entire nation became champions, no longer relying on a few national heroes to lead the way.

In Bertolt Brecht’s play, The Life of Galileo, when Galileo prepares to face the court, his student remarks:
“Unfortunate is the nation that has no heroes.”
Galileo responds:
“No… unfortunate is the nation that needs heroes.”

I am delighted that our young champion, Hassan Yazdani, won the gold medal – he is truly deserving of it. But I hope that one day, we will celebrate the victory of all Iranians, striving together to achieve the social and economic progress we deserve. For this to happen, every Iranian who works toward this goal is our champion.