Childhood dream come true for refugee judoka Khankan. IOC

Refugee judoka Adnan Khankan is preparing for his Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Being selected for the Olympics was one of the best and most beautiful moments in his life, Khankan told Olympics.com.

Born in Syria, Khankan left his country during the war. “I always tried not to leave my country because it’s a very difficult situation, you lose your family, your girlfriend, your dream,

“During this time, I had no idea what might happen but luckily we arrived in Germany in October. “I said ‘okay, my journey is over. I’m in a safe place. But what am I doing here now?’ - that was even worse than the journey," Khankan said.



On the TV, Adnan watched as the opening ceremony of Rio 2016 unfolded. “I knew people who were on the Olympic Refugee Team back then. I met them and I know them.

“They were in our sports centre. I cried, you can ask my wife, I cried non-stop because, without this situation [fleeing war], I would probably have had the chance to be in Rio,” continued the athlete.

Eight years later he will be in Paris as a member of the IOC Refugee Team. “Every athlete who does competitive sport wants to take part in the Games one day, [and] I just want to enjoy it.



“I want to enjoy every second of it because after my situation, my journey, everything I have suffered in my life… I am a winner right now.” 

The athlete does not want to stop with this achievement and already is thinking about the next Olympic Games. “Depending on my result, I would like to train a little harder until LA 2028 and continue to train hard, take part again and get better results,” concludes Khankan.