I feel like I'm winning in life.
Always Moving Forward
When Noor Flanagan-Almusawhi entered federal foster care as an unaccompanied minor at the age of 17, he had already been through a great deal. Born and raised in Iraq during the reign of Saddam Hussein, for Noor, witnessing brutality and turmoil was a part of everyday life. After escaping to Jordan, then Syria, Noor's family was approved for asylum in the United States.
Things unraveled quickly once he arrived, and Noor entered federal foster care. Soon he realized that he needed a physical outlet to help him digest all the trauma he’d endured.
Luckily, someone connected Noor to the high school wrestling coach, who encouraged him to try the sport. Noor joined the team and soon found his happy place. He says, “When I practice, I feel free. I’m doing something that I love.” With unwavering support from his coach and a relentless work ethic, Noor evolved into California's top-ranked high school wrestler.
Noor is a Pivotal alumnus, scholarship recipient, and recent graduate in Business Law from Arizona State University. He is also a 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games hopeful.