TEHRAN – Iran artistic gymnast Mahdi Olfati continued his historic run at the 2024 Paris Olympics, qualifying for the vault finals. Despite facing numerous challenges, Olfati expressed optimism about securing a medal for Iran at the 2028 Olympics.

In an exclusive interview, Olfati discussed his Olympic experience: “It was a tough competition. The pressure was immense. I was nervous, but I believe I performed well for my first Olympic appearance. The judges were a bit strict, but I’m glad I made it to the finals.”

When asked about his mental preparation, Olfati revealed, “I had a few sessions with a sports psychologist before leaving Iran, but due to limitations, they couldn’t accompany me. I don’t think it made much of a difference in such a short time.”

Addressing the criticism about his first vault attempt in the finals, Olfati clarified, “Most of the finalists had multiple Olympic experiences. And don’t forget that there was the huge gap in our facilities. I made it to the Olympics with almost nothing. It was God who got me there! Despite all that, I performed well in the finals. My speed helped me gain height, but I slipped a bit during landing.”

Looking ahead to the 2028 Olympics, Olfati expressed his determination: “I’m aiming to bring home a medal for Iran. I’ll be training harder with more up-to-date techniques. I promise to give my all for my country.”

Despite the challenges, Olfati remains optimistic about the future of Iranian gymnastics. “We have talented gymnasts in Iran, but we lack the proper facilities. I'm confident that in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, we will see multiple Iranian gymnasts winning medals.”

Olfati finished in seventh place in the 2024 Olympic Games. He scored 14.266 in the vault.

The gold medal went to the Philippines' Carlos Edriel Yulo, while the silver went to Armenia's Artur Davtyan and Briton Harry Hepworth seized the bronze.