Hadi Saei: Athletes Die Twice

More than a decade after his retirement, Hadi Saei —two-time Olympic champion, Iranian legend, and now president of his national federation— proves that true victory lies in transcendence. This is the story of our meeting in Mexico, told in first person, where he shared one of the most powerful phrases ever spoken in sports: “Athletes die twice.”

It was April 7, 2009—my birthday. We were in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, with Laura and Matías, covering the International Training Camp organized by Ireno Fargas at the CAR La Loma. The atmosphere felt like a mini Olympic Games: world champions, Olympic medalists, and top coaches from around the world sharing the same tatami. Among them stood Hadi Saei, calm and silent, yet calling the attention without saying a word.

Less than a year had passed since he became a two-time Olympic champion, and although his retirement was not yet public, Hadi chose MASTKD to break the news. That conversation went far beyond sports—it was a confession. His toughest battles, it turned out, hadn’t been fought inside the ring, but against his own federation and government in the way to Beijing 2008.

For younger generations, it’s worth recalling who he truly was—and still is: two Olympic golds (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008), two World Championships (Edmonton 1999, Madrid 2005), Asian Games gold in Busan 2002, and the Asian Championship title in Bangkok 2006. A legend whose victories placed Iran at the center of world Taekwondo.

I remember vividly that it was his first visit to Latin America. He told us he had come mainly because of his admiration for Ireno Fargas, whom he deeply respected. Outside Taekwondo, he was already reinventing himself—running an equestrian center and competing in show jumping with his own horses. At that time, he owned four.

When Matías, who conducted the interview, asked him how it felt to win his first Olympic gold, Hadi smiled and replied softly:

“It was one of the best moments of my life. In Iran, any Olympic medal is a matter of national pride. My people showed me incredible affection—so much that they even named a street, a bank, and an oil tanker after me.”

Then the tone shifted. When Matías asked about his road to Beijing, Hadi’s expression grew serious. His voice, always composed, responded strugguling:

“I had no support back home. The newspapers said: Hadi shouldn’t go, he’s too old.
I trained in isolation for eight months. I lived just five minutes from the national center, yet was only allowed to see my family once a month.

The federation made things hard. I had to defeat the five best fighters in Iran—not only in my weight division but across four different divisions.

During my last match with a heavyweight, I fractured my left hand.
A month later, I fought the Olympic Games with that same hand broken.”

He went on to reveal the political tension surrounding his participation:

“Even the Iranian parliament was against me because I had expressed sympathy for a non-government political party. My place in Beijing became a matter of State.”

And yet, he won. Against all odds, Hadi Saei brought home the only Olympic gold medal for Iran in 2008, turning Taekwondo into the nation’s number one sport.

As we wrapped up the interview, I asked whether he intended to remain involved in Taekwondo. He looked at me calmly and said something I would never forget:

“I’m thinking about running for president of the Iranian Taekwondo Federation. In my country, we say that athletes die twice—once when they retire, and again when they truly die.

I’ve already achieved everything as an athlete, but if I can keep contributing to the sport’s growth… then I’ll only die once.”

More than a decade has passed since that moment. And he kept his word. Hadi Saei is now the President of the Iranian Taekwondo Federation, a respected sports leader and national icon who carries the same humility he once showed on the mat—now applied to governance, diplomacy, and legacy.

When I think back on his words, athletes die twice, I understand them differently now. Perhaps Hadi was right, or perhaps he proved himself wrong. Because men like him don’t really die twice—they simply live again, through everything and everyone their journey inspired.

MAS: Media About Sport.
TKD: Taekwondo.
MASTKD.com: Worldwide Leader on Taekwondo Information.

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Claudio Aranda

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