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From Olympic glory to Grand Prix gold: Salimi shines again in Paris
His men’s +80kg triumph came against a familiar opponent in Great Britain’s Caden Cunningham, the silver medalist at Paris 2024. Once again, Salimi came back after losing the first round to take gold.
“I really love Paris, and this city has a very special place in my heart because my life changed after the Paris Olympics,” Salimi said. “Winning this gold medal brought back feelings very similar to those I experienced when I won Olympic gold.”
The setting was different, with the Palais des Sports Marcel Cerdan hosting the Grand Prix, but the challenge of overcoming Cunningham was just as demanding.
Cunningham took a fiercely contested opening round 14-9, leaving Salimi needing a response to keep his hopes of gold alive. He delivered, winning the second round before sealing victory with an 11-7 success in the decider.
“I was a little surprised by how the final went. I landed a lot of kicks on his body protector that had scored points for me in previous matches, but in this fight, I was more tired and didn’t have the same power I had shown earlier in the competition. Caden also fought very intelligently and with great concentration,” he said.
For Salimi, the chance to face Cunningham in another final in Paris gave the occasion extra significance.
“I had always wanted to fight him again because I believe our Olympic final was one of the most beautiful fights in the history of Taekwondo. But I never imagined that we would meet again in Paris, in another final,” he said. “I’m also really happy to see Caden back competing at this level again.”
His success in Paris contributed to a double gold for Iran on the opening day, alongside Abolfazl Zandi’s victory in the men’s -58kg. For Salimi, it also offered another opportunity to embrace the challenges that continue to drive him after reaching the sport’s highest stage.
“Every athlete dreams of becoming an Olympic champion, but it really comes with a huge responsibility. People have high expectations of you, and you become a role model in everything you do: your behavior, the way you celebrate a victory, the way you fight, and even the way you maintain your motivation,” he said.
Rather than focusing solely on results, Salimi draws motivation from the demands of competition itself. “But I focus on my journey. I don’t spend too much time thinking about Olympic ranking points or tournament grades. I love challenges, I love fighting, and I love being able to control difficult situations,” he said.
“When I compete, I feel alive. I love those moments when I have to breathe deeper, draw on everything I have, and push myself to the limit.”
With another Paris gold secured, that appetite for competition remains central to his ambitions.
“My next goal is to keep improving and perform better in my next competition. I want to enjoy what I do even more than before,” Salimi said.
“For me, it’s not just about winning medals. I want to keep challenging myself, developing as a fighter, and enjoying every moment of this journey.”