The First Legionnaire
There are no verified documents in this regard, but according to oral research, Kambiz Madanipour is Isfahan sport’s first legionnaire. During Los Angeles Kickers-Victoria’s visit to Isfahan, Madanipour attracted the attention of the American team and joined it nearly 60 years ago. He played in the American Football League for several years.
The First Champion Team
Since the emergence of football leagues in Iran, Isfahani teams were among the participants. Yet, the most important event in the history of Isfahani clubs is perhaps the championship of Sepahan F.C. in the second Persian Gulf Pro League. Before that, mainly Persepolis and Esteghlal, the two major teams of the capital, competed for championship, and Sepahan’s winning the Pro League marked a geographical shift in Iran’s football.
The First Olympic Medal
It took nearly a half-century from Isfahani athletes’ first appearance at the Olympics until the earning of their first medal. Finally, Sohrab Moradi, a weightlifter from Lenjan County, Isfahan, earned a gold medal by lifting a combined 403kg in the men’s 94kg weightlifting at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Moradi also won the 94kg class at the 2017 and 2018 World Weightlifting Championships.
The First Olympic Woman
Giti Moheban and Maryam Achak are the first Isfahani female athletes who appeared in the Olympics. By winning at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran, these two female fencers were allowed to take part in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, but Golnoush sebqatollahi was the first Isfahani female athlete who earned a place in the Olympics through the qualification tournament and accompanied Iran’s shooting team at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The First Appearance in World Championships
The first appearance of Isfahani athletes in global competitions happened in the field of wrestling, and the late Mahdi Moqarab was the one who made it. Moqarab was among the first members of Iran National Wrestling Team and participated in the 1951 World Wrestling Championships in Helsinki, Finland. He was 19 at the time. Moqarab is also known as the founder and the first coach of Iran Deaf National Wrestling Team.
The First Medal of International Competitions
It took nearly three decades for Isfahani athletes to win their first medal in global competitions, after their first appearance. Having defeated famous competitors despite his young age, Morad-Ali Shirani, Isfahani wrestler, entered the national team, and one year after his failure at the Montreal Olympics, he won the bronze medal of Greco-Roman 52kg at the 1977 World Wrestling Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. Also, among Isfahani Women, Khadije Azadpour is known as the first winner of a global medal. She won the 2009 World Wushu Championships in Canada.
The First Asian Title
In 2007, Sepahan F.C. finished the AFC Champions League in second place. This is perhaps the most newsworthy Asian title of an Isfahani team and lead Sepahan F.C. to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup. Three years later, Zob Ahan F.C., another Isfahani football club, also became the runner-up of the AFC Champions League, having been defeated by the Korean competitor.
Women’s First Individual and Team Gold Medals at the Asian Games
At the 1974 Asian Games held in Tehran, Iranian women’s foil team won first place. Giti Moheban and Maryam Achak, Isfahani fencers, were among the team’s members. Moheban also earned a bronze medal in the individual event, which is known as Isfahani women’s first Asian Games medal. At the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, though it was wushu’s first official appearance in the competitions, Khadije Azadpour, Isfahani athlete, earned a gold medal in the women’s sanda. It is regarded as Iranian women’s first individual gold medal at the Asian Games.
The First Asian Games Gold Medal
Daryoush Zakeri was the first Isfahani athlete who won a gold medal at the Asian Games. He competed in the men’s 90kg freestyle wrestling. Isfahani athletes continued to earn gold medals in the next games, but they reached their peak performance at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, where four athletes won gold medals, which was important not only in terms of the number but also the variety of the medals.
