Success Story: Mohammad Deljoo

OPAIC student, Mohammad Deljoo, has just taken out seven gold medals at the New Zealand Masters Games 2023.

Mohammad was a member of the Iranian national swimming team for ten years. He specialises in breaststroke but races in all strokes across short distances.

Mohammad competed in seven events at the New Zealand Masters Games in Whanganui last month and took out gold medals in all seven. Mohammad swam less than half a second short of the New Zealand 50-metre Breaststroke record which has been standing for nearly 20 years.

“I promise you next competition I’ll break that record,” he says.

Outside of his study and swimming, Mohammad is a professional coach. He is a member of the World Swimming Coaches Association, American Swimming Coaches Association, and Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association.

He currently works as a swimming coach at Swimtastic under former national coach Mark Bone.

“I’m learning a lot from him. He is very, very talented,” says Mohammad.

Mohammed was coaching in Oman prior to coming to New Zealand. The Covid pandemic had started impacting his ability to work so he decided it was a good time to return to study. He had previously Completed a Master of Science degree in Sport Physiology but wanted to develop some management skills.

Mohammad did a lot of research around the different countries where he could study looking at everything from the people to the economy to the environment.

“Since I am a professional swimming coach, I have worked for international organisations and have had the opportunity to travel to other countries. But honestly, my personality is very research-based. So, I researched about all of those countries and I figured out New Zealand is very suitable for me and for my family.”

He also realised anyone who graduated from a New Zealand provider had a good future with good job prospects.

“Everybody in the world knows that New Zealand academic study is not just academic, it’s practical as well,” he says.

Mohammad completed the New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 5) with us online in 2021. He arrived in New Zealand last August and is now studying toward a Master of Applied Management with us on campus.

“One of my reasons for choosing Otago Polytechnic was because whatever I’m learning here during my study – it’s not just academic, it’s practical and I can use it in my future life,” he says.