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Paris Today
By the People, for the People
Whoopi Goldberg Exec Producing Documentary on Refugee Olympic Athletes
The film "More Than A Medal" follows the journeys of refugee athletes competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
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Whoopi Goldberg is executive producing a new documentary film called "More Than A Medal" that spotlights the stories of refugee athletes who competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Directed by Sean Claffey, the film follows sports journalist Poppy Farsijani as she traces the journeys of several refugee athletes, including an Iranian teenage female weightlifter, a Cameroon-born middleweight boxer, and two taekwondo fighters. The documentary aims to highlight the athletes' athletic achievements as well as their respective fights for freedom.
Why it matters
The International Olympic Committee created an official refugee team in 2016 to give displaced athletes a chance to compete on the world stage. "More Than A Medal" shines a light on the remarkable stories behind these refugee athletes, addressing universal themes of resilience, freedom, and the pursuit of justice.
The details
Filming for "More Than A Medal" took place in Paris as well as locations around the world, including New York, Los Angeles, Washington, London, Bulgaria, and Germany. The documentary features the stories of several refugee athletes, including Iranian teenage female weightlifter Yekta Jamali Galeh, Cameroon-born middleweight boxer Cindy Ngamba, and taekwondo fighters Hadi Tiranvalipour and Kasra Mehdipournejad.
- The 2024 Summer Olympics took place in Paris.
- Filming for "More Than A Medal" occurred in 2024 and 2025.
The players
Whoopi Goldberg
An American actress, comedian, author, and television personality who is executive producing the documentary film "More Than A Medal".
Sean Claffey
The director of the documentary film "More Than A Medal".
Poppy Farsijani
A sports journalist who is the central figure in the documentary film "More Than A Medal", tracing the journeys of refugee athletes competing in the 2024 Olympics.
Yekta Jamali Galeh
An Iranian teenage female weightlifter who is featured in the documentary film "More Than A Medal".
Cindy Ngamba
A Cameroon-born middleweight boxer who is featured in the documentary film "More Than A Medal".
Hadi Tiranvalipour
A taekwondo fighter who is featured in the documentary film "More Than A Medal".
Kasra Mehdipournejad
A taekwondo fighter who is featured in the documentary film "More Than A Medal".
What they’re saying
“We shine the light into the darkness and expose injustice perpetrated on these athletes. We pull back the curtain, not only highlighting the remarkable journeys of the refugee athletes but also addressing universal themes of resilience, freedom and the pursuit of justice.”
— Poppy Farsijani, Producer (Deadline)
What’s next
The documentary film "More Than A Medal" is currently in production, with Limonero Films handling presales and taking the first footage out to buyers at the EFM in Berlin.
The takeaway
The documentary "More Than A Medal" shines a light on the inspiring stories of refugee athletes who overcame immense challenges to compete at the highest level of international sports, highlighting their resilience, determination, and pursuit of freedom.
