Aram Mahmoud, who made history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games as the first badminton player in the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, sounds content. Based in Almere in the Netherlands, he is particularly happy that his parents and siblings are with him, away from the troubled situation in their home country Syria. He is close to completing his second year of his sports marketing course, and he has renewed his goals in badminton. He enjoys coaching junior players. He has much to look forward to – indeed, he hasn’t ruled out competing in another Olympics.

Perhaps more importantly, he constantly talks of becoming a better version of himself.

After playing a few tournaments for his home country Syria, Mahmoud relocated to the Netherlands in 2015, eventually resuming his badminton career three years later. Following his history-making debut at the Olympics, Mahmoud pursued his education, while continuing to play badminton, including league matches in Netherlands, Spain and Germany. In recent months badminton did take a backseat to studies – he played only two international tournaments this season — but after his second-year exams, he wants to get back to life as a professional badminton player from September.

“I was thinking of having a break (from studies), so I can fully focus on badminton and practice in a good way and live like a professional athlete,” the 26-year-old says.

“I’m motivated by myself, to try to be the best version I can be. I want to see how much I can improve. It’s challenging because I need to do it by my own. It will be nice for me for later, when I stop playing, I can tell myself I did everything I could.

“The goal is to reach the top 100. I know I can do it.”

Having trained and played in various centres in Europe and Asia alongside elite players, Mahmoud believes he has evolved into a better player since his appearance at Tokyo 2020.

“I’ve become wiser, I understand the game a bit better with the experience I’ve had. I can also think differently during a game. I haven’t been practising as much as before, so I feel my endurance and stamina have gone down. It’s a good goal for me to build up my stamina, to be a more complete player.”

And while the Olympics was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it continues to whet his appetite for more.

“Playing at Tokyo 2020 motivated me,” recalls Mahmoud. “It helped me understand that I still have a lot to work on. Playing top players like Jonatan Christie and Loh Kean Yew made me think that I’m not there yet. And if I want to be there, I need to work 200 per cent. It’s not easy to be there. I have to be at a higher level to challenge them. We saw it with Kevin Cordon (at Tokyo 2020) for example. If he can reach a semifinal, we all can. This made me feel like I need to do a lot of work.

“Los Angeles 2028 is a goal. I want to give myself a chance again. It’s not easy to cover the expenses. If I have the possibility and the environment to continue, I’d love to participate in 2028, but also as a better version of myself. To do everything I can, not try 50-50, but to be there 100 per cent.”

Down the road, he’d like to help others like himself. He knows the value of sport in helping refugees get back on their feet. From first-hand experience he knows sport can be an important tool in this process.

“I would love to help out refugees,” says Mahmoud. “So far I haven’t had a chance as I’ve been busy with my studies and coaching. Especially with people coming for a new life and career in Europe, I know the difficulties they face and the care they need, to show what they can do. I received that from a couple of people in the Netherlands, and also from the IOC and the refugee team.

“Sport can have a huge impact on people. They want to forget what they’ve been through, and develop that into achievement and sport is an important thing to have if you want to reach a goal.”

Tomorrow: Dorsa Yavarivafa, IOC Refugee Team player at Paris 2024, talks to Aram Mahmoud