Roqe - Ep #119 - From Tehran to Team USA Gold - Afsoon Johnston

A feature interview with Iranian-American wrestling pioneer and champion, Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston. Afsoon was the first ever world medalist in women’s wrestling in 1989, and has been a multiple medalist and champion since then. She joins Jian from San Diego to recount her story of being born in Tehran before emigrating to the United States at the age of 11 in 1984, finding her confidence and identity as a wrestler (in the footsteps of her famous wrestling father), overcoming cultural and gender barriers to join the American national team by her late teens, winning awards including a gold medal with Team USA as coach at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, and her brand new biography entitled, “Afsoon”. She opens up about her emotions in not only being recognized as an American star, but an Iranian one as well these days. Plus, the Roqe Team ponders Jian’s confusion at the Persian names for Jesus and Moses.