Olympic Resilience & Grit | Afsoon Johnston
Some stories stay with you long after the conversation ends.
This was one of them.
Afsoon Roshan Zamir Johnston embodies resilience in its purest form. Born in Iran during a time of war and political upheaval, Afsoon would go on to become the first U.S. woman to medal at the Wrestling World Championships, later coaching the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Wrestling Team in Rio, and earning induction into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame.
She is a trailblazer, physical therapist, speaker, mentor, and living proof that adversity does not define your future.
It was an honor to sit down with Afsoon on the podcast to talk about courage, recovery, identity, and what it truly means to keep showing up when the odds are stacked against you.
Growing Up in War and on a Wrestling Mat
Afsoon was born in Iran during the Iran-Iraq war, a time marked by bombings, blackouts, food shortages, and daily uncertainty. While air raid sirens sounded outside, something extraordinary was happening inside her family’s living room.
Her father, a wrestler himself, began teaching Afsoon wrestling techniques as a toddler, rolling up the Persian rug to use as a makeshift mat. In a country where girls were restricted from sports (and much more), her parents quietly created a space where she could move, learn, and dream.
Wrestling became more than a sport. It became a sanctuary.
Outside their home, however, life was dangerous. Friends disappeared from school after the bombings. Supplies were scarce. Fear was constant.
Eventually, her parents made the heartbreaking decision to flee Iran. Afsoon and her mother escaped first, leaving her father behind with no guarantee they would ever reunite.
They arrived in San Jose as refugees.
Afsoon started school almost immediately — without speaking English.
Finding Her Place in America
Junior high was brutal.
She faced culture shock, language barriers, poverty, and bullying. Kids called her a terrorist. She wore the same shoes every day. She received free lunch tickets. Her parents, once highly educated professionals, worked factory and service jobs to survive.
But like so many immigrant stories, hardship planted the seeds of grit.
Sports became her bridge to belonging.
By high school, Afsoon discovered cheerleading — hoping to fit into her new American world. But everything changed when she wandered past the wrestling room one afternoon and instinctively demonstrated a takedown on a teammate.
Suddenly, her childhood training resurfaced.
Encouraged by her father and supported by Title IX, Afsoon joined her high school boys’ wrestling team — becoming one of the very first girls to do so.
She trained alongside boys, competed against boys, and faced resistance everywhere.
Some opponents refused to wrestle her.
Others literally ran away.
But Afsoon stayed.
Making History (Before She Knew It)
In 1989, Afsoon competed in the first-ever U.S. Women’s National Wrestling Tournament. After years of training against elite boys, she dominated and earned a spot on the inaugural U.S. Women’s National Team.
That same year, she traveled to Switzerland for the first Women’s World Championships and won a medal, unknowingly becoming the first American woman in history to medal at Worlds.
A year later, at the 1990 World Championships in Sweden, she medaled again.
Instead of trophies, athletes were handed… kitchen appliances.
Yes, Afsoon received a sauté pan.
There was even a “Prettiest Wrestler” award, complete with a sash and tiara.
It sounds unbelievable now, but that was the reality of women’s sports just 35 years ago.
Choosing Life Beyond Competition
Afsoon continued competing internationally, eventually becoming the top-ranked wrestler in the U.S. But when women’s wrestling failed to debut in the 2000 Olympics, she faced an impossible decision:
Put her life on hold for four more uncertain years or move forward with career, marriage, and family.
She chose life.
She retired in 2000, went on to earn her master’s in physical therapy, and became a mother of three.
When women’s wrestling finally debuted at the 2004 Olympics, Afsoon watched from home nine months pregnant with her second child.
She calls her daughter her “Olympic gold medal.”
Returning to the Mat as a Leader
Years later, when wrestling was briefly dropped from the Olympics in 2012, the sport rallied globally to increase women’s participation.
Afsoon was invited back this time as an ambassador, physical therapist, and advocate for women’s wrestling worldwide.
Her journey came full circle in 2016, when she coached the U.S. Women’s Wrestling Team at the Rio Olympics.
From refugee to Olympian mentor.
From a little girl on a Persian rug to a Hall of Fame inductee.
What Afsoon Taught Me
Our conversation went far beyond wrestling.
We talked about:
The resilience of immigrant children
The power of representation (“You can’t be what you can’t see”)
The difficult choices women face between career and family
The men who showed up as allies when women needed space to grow
And the quiet courage it takes to keep going when no one has gone before you
Afsoon’s story reminds us that progress doesn’t happen overnight; it happens because brave people are willing to stand alone at first.
She didn’t just open doors for women’s wrestling.
She kicked them down.
Final Thoughts
Afsoon Johnston is living proof that your beginnings do not determine your destination.
Her life is a testament to perseverance, possibility, and purpose — and a powerful reminder that when one woman rises, she creates space for countless others to follow.
If you’ve ever questioned your path, felt out of place, or wondered whether your dreams were too big. Let Afsoon’s story be your reminder:
You belong here.
Your voice matters.
And courage is built one brave choice at a time.
You can connect with Afsoon on Instagram at @afsoonwrestling, where she shares her journey and connects with young athletes around the world. She’s also the author of a powerful life story book that dives deeper into the experiences she’s shared. For more information, booking, or direct contact, visit her website at www.afsoonwrestling.com — and if you’re a young girl dreaming big, Afsoon would love to connect and cheer you on.