The change in Saeid Fazloula's sports attire is easily noticeable. Lacing up in white and pink Adidas Predators, he looks ready to whip one into the top bins.
Now 32, Fazloula is the athletic trainer for the Karlsruher SC U-17 team competing in the German Bundesliga.
The new chapter in football also signals the end of another era: his career as a high-performance athlete.
A two-time Olympian, Fazloula has officially retired from canoeing — the sport, in his own words, “that made me who I am.”
Having initially planned to call it a day at the 2025 International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships in Milan, Fazloula had to prepone it when Bundesliga came calling.
“It was always a dream to work in football. When they came up with an offer, I did not think twice,” Fazloula said.
“Now, I have to let go of Milan, which is sad. The plan was to retire at the World Championships.
“But I've got to say a proper goodbye to the sport at the German South Championships this weekend.
“It was very emotional for me. I was nobody when I came here in 2015. Everyone was asking who I was and what I was doing there. I have always participated in the German South Championships, lining up along with legends, and it was special to finish here.”
The first canoeist to be part of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team at Tokyo 2020, Fazloula's story has never followed a straight path.
Forced to flee Iran in 2015 due to political reasons, he went on to feature at a second Olympic Games at Paris 2024, where four paddlers took part under the refugee flag.
While he hinted at retirement after the Games last year, his love for the sport meant he wanted to go all the way to Milan.
But with a new job at Karlsruher SC, the Asian Games silver medallist knew there would not be enough time for preparations.
Responsibilities, however, are only going to increase as he also announced a second baby boy who will be joining them soon.
“I have a lot to learn about football. I am doing performance coaching mainly, along with weight training and SAP. There is a lot of data analysis, and I am also working with the physios,” Fazloula said.
“Now, I have a big family, a job and everything I got in life was from canoe. I had a lot of help from Germany, the ICF and the IOC.
“I think the two boys are too much for my wife.”
Asked if he sees himself becoming a canoe coach, Fazloula said not at the moment.
For now, he wants to prioritise staying at home and spending time with my family.
“I have not yet thought about becoming a canoe coach. I need some distance for now. I was in the sport for almost 20 years,” he added.
“From training to competitions, it was all year round. But maybe in five or six years, but not now.”
With the Fazloula clan getting bigger, he wished that his family were around to welcome the new member of the family.
With the hostile situation in Iran showing no signs of improvement and the German embassy relocating its staff in Tehran, there is a lot of uncertainty.
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“My parents were in Germany last year after 10 years. They stayed for three months and met their grandson. I want to do it again in December when the second baby comes, but I don’t know if they will get a visa or not.
“The best time of my life was in 2024. I went to the Games and my parents were there. It was great and I was not alone.
“I still remember the first time I saw my mum after moving to Germany. It was in Belgrade in 2018 at the European Championships. My mom and sister came to visit. I met my father after the Tokyo Games. I wish I could do it more often.”
Fazloula is nothing if not a fighter. For all the hardships that life has thrown at him, he has always found a way to ‘Joga Bonito’ his way out of it.
At least, he made it look like that, like Ronaldinho's deft touch to bring an aerial ball to a halt.
“I have not had it easy. But canoeing has taught me how to be strong and move forward in my private life.
“I never give up. When people tell me I have no chance, I keep continuing.
“I am always cool in situations like this, and life will always find a way.”
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