How a refugee Olympian found a new life in Canada

Nadine Yousif from BBC News in Toronto shares the inspiring story of Nigara Shaheen, a judoka who is set to compete in women's judo at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Nigara's path to becoming an Olympic athlete is remarkable and filled with challenges. Her journey began not with judo, but with a simple 30-minute karate lesson on her family's balcony in Peshawar, Pakistan, when she was just 11 years old. Nigara's life as a refugee started when she fled her home country of Afghanistan in 1993. As an infant, she was carried by her mother as they walked for two days and nights through the mountains to find safety. This early experience shaped her resilience and determination.

Throughout her childhood, Nigara faced numerous obstacles. As a young student in Pakistan, she encountered harassment from older men on her way to the refugee school she attended, and she was bullied by her peers. In a heartfelt essay, she recounted a traumatic incident where an older man assaulted her and her sister. Despite her desire to fight back, she felt powerless. Her mother recognized the need for Nigara to learn self-defense, but the school she attended did not offer martial arts or any after-school activities. Fortunately, through her extended family, she discovered a karate instructor who could come to her home. Soon, Nigara was practicing karate on her aunt's balcony, which her mother encouraged her to use as much as she wanted. Before long, she was competing in local karate tournaments.

As she honed her skills, her coach noticed her talent and suggested she try judo. Initially, Nigara was unfamiliar with the sport, asking her coach, 'What’s judo? And how would I know what to do? ' Her coach simply told her, 'Just grab your opponent and throw her, that’s it. ' Nigara quickly adapted and was able to take down her first opponent in mere seconds. Winning was exhilarating, but it was the philosophy of judo that truly captivated her. Her first coach taught her that one must learn to get up after falling, a lesson that resonated deeply with her. This philosophy reminded her of the times she watched WWE wrestling with her father, which brought her joy amidst the hardships of being a refugee. As she continued to train, Nigara's talent became evident, and she even trained with Pakistan's national judo team. However, she faced a significant barrier: without a Pakistani passport, she could not compete alongside them. In 2014, she returned to Afghanistan, where she pursued a degree in political science and public administration at the American University in Kabul. There, she trained with the Afghan national team, where her male colleagues treated her like family.

Despite her success, Nigara faced immense challenges as a female athlete in Afghanistan. She experienced cyberbullying and physical harassment, which made her training difficult. In 2018, she left Afghanistan again, this time to study in Russia. However, she struggled to find training partners and spent a year training alone, which she described as 'the worst days' of her career. In 2019, an International Judo Federation member encouraged her to try out for the Refugee Olympic Team. Although she qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a serious shoulder injury prevented her from competing. By that time, the situation in Afghanistan had deteriorated significantly, leaving her feeling trapped. She returned to Pakistan, where she lived in fear for her safety, especially after receiving criticism for not wearing a headscarf during the Games.

A new opportunity arose when she was offered the chance to live and train in Canada, thanks to the Olympic Refugee Foundation and the United Nations Refugee Agency. Nigara moved to Toronto in September 2022, a bittersweet moment for her as she had to say goodbye to her parents once again. In Canada, she found a supportive environment that allowed her to thrive as an athlete. Now, she is one of 37 athletes representing the Refugee Olympic Team in Paris. Nigara feels immense pride in being part of this team, stating, 'I feel really proud. ' Although she lost her first match against Mexico’s Prisca Awiti Alcaraz, she remains grateful for the opportunity to compete at such a high level. 'Even with every loss, I learn something new,' she said. Nigara is looking forward to competing again in a mixed team event, where she feels a strong sense of camaraderie with her teammates. After the Olympics, she plans to make Canada her permanent home and hopes to work towards helping other refugees like herself. Her parents continue to support her from Pakistan, cheering her on as she pursues her Olympic dream. During her toughest moments, Nigara draws strength from her family, recalling her sister's encouraging words: 'I trust that one day you will achieve something big, and this will be a memory and you will laugh about this. ' Now, she can finally laugh about her journey.