TEHRAN - Young Iranian swimmer Parsa Shahshahani has described winning a silver medal at the Youth Olympic Games as a major achievement, while setting his sights on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Shahshahani made history at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games by winning silver in the men's 200m backstroke, securing Iran's first-ever swimming medal at the Youth Olympic Games.
The Iranian swimmer qualified for the final after clocking 2:03.68 in the heats, breaking the national junior record. He produced an even stronger performance in the final, touching the wall in 2:02.74 to improve his own national junior record and claim second place.
The medal was also Iran's first silver at the fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games.
Speaking to Tehran Times about his performance in Dakar, Shahshahani said: "I won the silver medal in the 200m backstroke at the Youth Olympic Games. Unfortunately, the gold medalist was well ahead of me, but I had a close battle with the swimmers who finished third and fourth. In the end, I managed to secure the silver medal. This achievement means a great deal to me."
Asked about his ambitions for the future, the young swimmer highlighted his Olympic dream.
"My first goal is to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
