Kimia Alizadeh, an Iranian-born taekwondo athlete, clinched a gold medal at the 2024 European Championships in Belgrade on Sunday, marking her first competition under the Bulgarian flag.

Competing in the women’s 62kg weight class, Alizadeh defeated Great Britain’s Aaliyah Powell, a world youth champion, in a closely contested final, winning 2 rounds to 1.

Recently granted Bulgarian citizenship and having received her passport just a month ago, Alizadeh's triumph in Belgrade carries significant weight as she is now poised to represent Bulgaria at the forthcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.

The athlete's defection was explained in a candid social media post describing the regime's control over her life and career, stating, "I am not a history maker, nor the flag bearer of Iran. I am one of millions of oppressed Iranian women who have been dictated to for years. They controlled my every move, my clothing, and even my words. They used my medals to promote their own agenda."

Her defection is part of a broader trend with around 30 Iranian athletes having sought asylum in other countries in recent years in a range of sports. Factors influencing such decisions include mandatory hijab and a policy prohibiting competition against Israeli athletes.