Iran’s Banitalebi voted Taolu Athlete of the Year
Iran’s Shahin Banitalebi has been crowned the IWUF Male Taolu Athlete of 2025 following a public vote conducted by the International Wushu Federation.
Banitalabi’s nomination for the prize came after a performance review by the IWUF Athletes’ Committee and despite fierce competition – particularly from Chinese athletes – the Iranian emerged victorious in the public vote to claim the prestigious honor.
A national team member since 2013, Banitalebi claimed the nanquan-nangun combined gold at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China, last August, before bagging bronze in the nandao event at the 17th World Wushu Championships in Brasília, Brazil.
“Throughout his career, Shahin has consistently showcased his abilities on both the world and Asian stages, earning multiple medals at these prestigious levels,” the official website of the sport’s international governing body wrote of the Iranian.
“His steady and reliable performances demonstrate his capacity to compete and succeed among the sport’s elite. His professionalism, discipline, and relentless dedication to training have also made him an inspiration for younger athletes and a trusted representative of the federation on the international stage.”