“A very high sense of fulfillment”
CEBU, Philippines — Well known Cebuano businessman, civic leader, and sportsman Afshin Ghassemi looks back with much pride for what has been another fruitful year for him.
In the sporting field, the president of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Alumni Association relishes a monumental feat of completing full marathons in London, Sydney, and Chicago, putting him two marathons away from earning the prestigious World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal.
Additionally, he conquered three grueling Ironman 70.3 races in Puerto Rico, Chattanooga, Tennessee and most recently the World Championships in New Zealand where he saw action side by side with the cream of the crop in the Ironman world.
“The feeling of racing among the best in the world is simply special. In my eight days in New Zealand, I had a peek into what truly makes a world champion. I realized it isn’t the physical gifts that you have that makes you a world champion but rather it is courage and determination despite difficulty, perseverance and passion amidst struggle, and resilience amidst adversity,” Ghassemi shared.
“This helped me get through my own adversities in this race. I was having stomach issues and was in pain. I could not run like I normally do and I could not ingest anything. I was vomiting and my hands were cold. It was tempting to call it a day and not finish the race but just like life, I knew I had to show grit and finish what I started. In the end, the fulfillment of that very hard earned medal was worth all the pain I had to endure,” he added.
In between racing, Ghassemi also shined brightly on the hardcourt.
A hoop enthusiast, he secured his fourth championship crown in the Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association when his Core Pacific Group team reigned supreme in Division A of SHAABAA Season 27.
Of his many accomplishments, two hold much weight in his heart.
“One would be my first full marathon with my wife Hana Ghassemi in London,” said Ghassemi. “The other would be sharing a basketball championship with other batches of SHS-AdC Alumni Association. It’s amazing how we could connect and share a lot of common values despite our age gaps which spans 10 years for some. The spirit of Magis and being men for others is very much alive and I feel it is very special when you see this across generations. We owe the common values that guide us to our alma mater, Sacred Heart School Ateneo de Cebu.”
Before attaining a certain measure of success, Ghassemi straightforwardly admitted that his 2024 campaign was very challenging.
“I had to balance and wear different hats as I navigated through various responsibilities,” said Ghassemi, who heads 2K Cares, a charitable organization founded by SHS-AdC Batch 2000 alumni in the hope of empowering individuals and communities to thrive through sustainable initiatives in education, livelihood, health, and the environment.
“On the aspect of sports, It was a severe test of mental and physical toughness. It was indeed a struggle to prepare and be ready at all times all year round. The challenges of several long haul flights, jet lag, different environments, the short recovery period and injuries along the way all make those medals and trophies sweet as candy.”
To sum it all up, it has been a memorable year for Ghassemi in sports, entrepreneurship, leadership, social involvement, and his family life as well.
“Amidst the struggle to find the balance among several responsibilities is the very high sense of fulfillment for having inspired and touched so many lives,”Ghassemi concluded. — (FREEMAN)
- Latest