Amir Ansari (cyclist)

{{Short description|Afghan cyclist}}

{{Infobox cyclist

| name = Amir Ansari
امیر انصاری

| image = 2024 UCI Road World Championships Zurich Men Elite Road Race E 20.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Ansari at the 2024 World Championships

| full_name = Amir Arslan Ansari

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|8|16|df=y}}{{cite web |title = Amir Ansari |website= Eurosport| accessdate= 28 May 2024 |url= https://www.eurosport.com/cycling/amir-ansari_prs667718/person.shtml}}

| birth_place = Iran

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| currentteam = Stockholm CK

| discipline = Road

| role = Rider

| ridertype =

| amateuryears1 = 2017–

| amateurteam1 = Stockholm CK

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}}

Amir Arslan Ansari ({{Langx|fa|امیر‌ارسلان انصاری}}; born 16 August 1999) is a road cyclist, who was born in Iran and grew up in Afghanistan. He was selected for the 2024 Olympic Games as part of the International Olympic Committee's Refugee Olympic Team.{{cite web|title=Amir Ansari|accessdate=28 May 2024|url= https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider/amir-arsalan-ansari|website=Pro Cycling Stats}}

Early life

Born in Iran, he grew up in Afghanistan but fled as a teenager in 2015 and lived as a refugee in Sweden. He had a background in mountain biking in Afghanistan, and in Sweden joined Stockholm Cycling Club. The Swedish Olympic Committee has supported him through the IOC's Olympic Solidarity programme.{{cite web|title=Amir Ansari|url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/amir-ansari|website=Olympics.com|access-date=28 May 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.unhcr.org/neu/123839-ioc-refugee-olympic-team-to-represent-more-than-100-million-displaced-people-at-the-olympic-games-paris-2024.html|website=unhcr.org|accessdate=28 May 2024|title= IOC Refugee Olympic Team to represent more than 100 million displaced people at the Olympic Games Paris 2024|date=2 May 2024}}

Career

He has competed as part of the Stockholm CK team and UCI Refugee Team.{{cite web|url=https://www.globalcyclingnetwork.com/general/news/36-athletes-from-11-countries-form-refugee-olympic-team-for-paris-2024|website=Global Cycling Network|accessdate=28 May 2024|title= 36 athletes from 11 countries form Refugee Olympic Team for Paris 2024|first=James|last=Howell-Jones|date=2 May 2024}} He competed in the Men's time trial at the 2023 UCI Road World Championships in Glasgow.{{cite web|url= https://news.stv.tv/west-central/it-was-like-a-dream-refugee-cycling-team-reflect-on-first-world-championships-in-glasgow|website=Stv.tv|accessdate=28 May 2024|title= 'It was like a dream': Refugee cyclists reflect on world championships|first=Fraser|last=Nicoll|date=23 August 2023}} He also competed in the Mixed team relay in Glasgow for the World Cycling Centre.{{cite web|title= Refugees racing World Championships send hope back home|first=Laura|last=Weislo|date=August 9, 2023|accessdate=28 May 2024|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/refugees-racing-world-championships-send-hope-back-home/|website=Cycling News

}}

In August 2023, the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) announced him as one of ten new refugee athletes awarded scholarships to help them train towards the Olympic Games Paris 2024.{{cite web|url= https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/10-new-refugee-athletes-get-scholarships-ahead-paris-olympics|title= 10 new refugee athletes get scholarships ahead of Paris Olympics|date=29 August 2023|website=Sportanddev.org|accessdate=28 May 2024}} In May 2024, he was named as part of the Refugee Olympic Team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.{{cite web|first=Zachary|last=Gates|url= https://www.nine.com.au/sport/olympics/ioc-refugee-team-paris-2024-athletes-names-amir-ansari-farida-abaroge-yahya-al-ghotany-20240503-p5jb4z.html|website=Nine.com|accessdate=28 May 2024|title= Cyclist from war-torn Afghanistan among 36 members of IOC refugee team for Paris 2024}}

References

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