Hi, I’m Zahra Nemati — an athlete, coach, and lifelong believer in the power of resilience.
My story didn’t begin on the archery range. I grew up in Kerman, Iran, and my first love was taekwondo. But in 2003, a car accident changed my life in an instant, leaving me paralyzed from the waist down.

That moment could have been the end of my sports journey — but instead, it was the beginning of a new one. Two years later, I picked up a bow for the first time. Within six months, I was competing nationally alongside able-bodied athletes. Soon after, I proudly joined Iran’s national team.

In 2012, at the London Paralympics, I became the first Iranian woman to win a gold medal at either the Olympic or Paralympic Games. That victory wasn’t just mine — it belonged to everyone who believed in me and to every person who’s ever faced a “you can’t” and turned it into a “watch me.”

Since then, I’ve had the honor of competing in both the Olympics and Paralympics, carrying my country’s flag at the Rio Olympics, and winning multiple Paralympic gold medals — in London, Rio, and Tokyo. Each arrow I release carries not just my dreams, but the hopes of people who see themselves in my journey.

Today, I’m also head coach of Iran’s national Para archery team. Coaching allows me to share everything I’ve learned — about sport, about life, and about never letting challenges define your limits.

Beyond sport, I’m passionate about advocating for people with disabilities and for women’s empowerment. I’ve spoken at the United Nations, served as a UN SDG Ambassador, and work every day to create opportunities for the next generation.

This is more than my career — it’s my purpose: to aim high, inspire others, and prove that no matter the obstacle, you can always find a way forward.