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Valerie Tarazi, the Palestinian-American swimmer representing Palestine at the 2024 Olympics, has brought her unwavering passion to the City of Lights, Paris.
At just 24 years old, Tarazi, known for her unapologetic activism, has captured the attention of her 31,000 followers with a powerful message about the Palestinian team’s mission for the games.
In a collaborated reel, she stated, “We are here to inspire the younger generation.”
Further elaborating, she emphasised that as representatives of Palestine, “We [are here to] stand with the flag, to represent the millions of Palestinians around the world who have been silenced and who don’t have a voice.”
“That is our goal; we want to stand for those people who can’t,” she proudly added. The post has since garnered over 100,000 likes and 1.9 million views, with comments reflecting this sentiment.
Her impactful appearance at the opening ceremony, where she wore a traditional Palestinian-embroidered dress, highlighted her deep awareness of her privilege.
Tarazi described herself as “one of the luckiest Palestinians in the world” for having the chance to compete.
Also opening up in a recent BBC interview, she talked about the devastation in Gaza and its personal impact. The swimmer reflected that her role on the Palestinian team is a tribute to the people of Gaza.
“It’s me honouring them,” she said. “My little bit of pain is nothing compared to what they endure every day.”
Representing Palestine at the Paris Olympics
With excitement building for the upcoming swim meet at Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre, sport fans are eagerly anticipating Valerie’s appearance.
Despite the intensive training, Tarazi shared her enthusiasm in a heartfelt post: “I couldn’t be prouder to be going back to my roots and representing Palestine in Paris!”
