DERAFSHIPOUR Hamoon

General
FROM THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN TO CANADA
In 2019 he and his wife Samira Malekipour left the Islamic Republic of Iran for Canada so Malekipour could be his coach. "I wanted my wife to be my coach. Iran is an Islamic country and she couldn't be my coach at the Olympics. When we came to Canada everyone told me it was impossible for me to get to the Olympics. There wasn't much time. I was a little sad. But I told myself that anything is possible. I've learned to always embrace challenges in my life. Your coach has to support you mentally. And she knows me better than anyone. We're both going to the Olympics and that's so awesome to me. Of course, I am happy. But I am most happy because my wife is coaching me at the Olympics. This dream is for both of us. We don't have time to be happy. We want to get results. After that we want to be able to say, 'Oh, now we are happy'." (therecord.com, 28 Apr 2021; olympics.com, 06 Jun 2021)

KARATE ACADEMY
Before moving to Canada he and his wife Samira Malekipour set up the Hamoon Karate Academy in Kermanshah, Islamic Republic of Iran, where they taught around 400 students. He also coaches at Driftwood Martial Arts in Kitchener, ON, Canada. (therecord.com, 28 Apr 2021; olympics.com, 06 Jun 2021; Instagram profile, 12 May 2021)