'I feel like a dream': Syrian refugee competes at Canada Summer Games for Team Manitoba

Last November, 17-year-old Khaled Aldrar was landing in Winnipeg and wondering what his new home would be like.

Only 10 months later, the Syrian teenager, who came as a refugee, is a member of Team Manitoba competing at the Canada Summer Games in wrestling.

"It's very difficult to explain what I am feeling but I feel very, very happy," Aldrar said through a translator.

• Full coverage of the 2017 Canada Summer Games

While Adrar is new to the city, he's certainly not new to wrestling. He comes from a wrestling family.

Aldrar's dad was a coach back in Syria and his two younger brothers are also involved in the sport.Aldrarhimself has been wrestling since he was seven and competed in Damascus before the war started.

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His talent was quickly spotted by Team Manitoba coach Krzysztof Stasiak when he was wrestling for a different club in Winnipeg.

Stasiak reached out to Aldrar's father and soon they started training together.

"He has a talent for it. It's just like everything else you have to learn," Stasiak said.

Aldraris taking English classes but Stasiak said there is a bit of a language barrier. But coach and athlete are finding creative ways to work around it.

With his father by his side at the University of Winnipeg,Aldrarwill compete in the lightweight division this week at the Games.

Competing under the banner of his new home is a very special experience,Aldrarsaid.

"I feel like a dream," he said.

Syrian refugee competes at Canada Summer Games for Team Manitoba

7 years ago

Duration 1:27

Khaled Aldrar came to Winnipeg as a Syrian refugee last November, and now he's competing for the province in the Canada Summer Games.