Ghasemi, running in a national water polo cap, instead of the more traditional life-saving head wear, easily bested the opposition in the open beach-sprint final, run over 90 meters.
Less than an hour later he was back on the sand to anchor the Iranian men’s team to win the open relay final.
The Iranian dasher beat runners from Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, South Africa, the US and Britain.
Ghasemi then ensured Iran won the gold medal in the team relay, relegating New Zealand and Britain to the minor medals.
“I live a long way from any beach in Iran,’’ said Ghasemi, speaking through an interpreter.
“The beach at Chalus on the Caspian Sea is a good eight-hour round trip by car. But the sacrifices I have made just to be here to compete was all worth it after having the honor to be the first athlete from my country to have won the first medal of any color at a world life-saving championship. I am very happy for my country and my people.’’
The Iranians, under coach Eilkhan Nuri, sent a team of six men and five women to the world championships, which are held every two years.
“We sent our first team away to the championships in Egypt in 2010,’’ Nuri said.
“At home our beaches are segregated. The five women on this team have to train by themselves; that is our law.’’
But it was Ghasemi who was the talk of Glenelg Beach.
Little did his opponents in the final of the beach sprint know that Ghasemi came to these world championships with form, having won selection to run for Iran in the men’s 100 meters at this year’s London Olympics.
The world championships at Glenelg end next Sunday, having attracted more than 4,000 competitors from 42 countries from a record 268 surf life-saving clubs.
