France and Iran

At the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Iran sent 55 athletes three of whom were women. One of the Iranian women athletes held Iran’s flag, an event that stirred much controversy among leaders in the country. In previous Olympics Iran usually performed quite well, but in Beijing they were only able to receive one gold and one bronze metal.The “Iranian Hercules,” weightlifter Hossein Rezazadeh did not attend the Beijing Olympics because his doctors advised him to avoid stress. Rezazadeh won a gold medal in 2006, but he injured his knee in 2007 and has not competed in international competitions since. In 2008, Hadi Saei won the gold medal in 80kg Taekwondo after beating the Italian Mauro Sarmiento. Iran’s F.S. wrestler Morad Mohammadi won a bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics. Although many Iranians consider their performance in the 2008 Olympics a disappointment, one can argue that Iran has shown progress in that their flag was held and carried by a woman athlete.

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