Abu Dhabi figure skater first to compete internationally wearing a headscarf
Nisaa FM: - The United Arab Emirates (UAE), with temperatures as high as 48 degrees during summer, is famous for hosting the Formula 1, The Dubai World Cup horse race, camel races etc. But this desert country is also the first Arab state to join the International Skating Union (ISU).
And it is thanks to 22-year old Zahra Lari, the first skater from a Persian Gulf state to participate in international figure skating competitions. And wearing a headscarf.
"I began skating when I was 12 years old, after watching the Disney movie 'Ice Princess'," Lari tells.
Figure skating is not an easy task in a conservative Muslim country
In a conservative Muslim country, however, where Emirati women are expected to wear abayas and headscarves in public, Lari performing routines in a tight-fitting figure skating outfit in front of men was not an easy task.
"My father felt that it went too much against our normal traditions and culture for a girl to compete in sports," recalls Lari. At first, she decided not to skate competitively to avoid annoying her father. But after seeing his daughter's enthusiasm on the ice rink, he gradually relented, and gave Lari permission to enter competitions. "Now he is my biggest supporter," she says.
Today Lari competes wearing a modified version of the figure-skating outfit. Fabrics such as Lycra are replaced with opaque cloth, she covers her toned legs with thick leggings and wears a matching headscarf.
In 2012 at the European Cup, Lari was the first Arab woman to skate in front of a professional international judging
panel wearing a headscarf. The judges deducted points from her score for an outfit violation. Subsequently, she campaigned the ISU to change its rules. Hence, at the Nebelhorn Trophy, in Germany, where Lari competed in September, officials were instructed not to consider the veil to violate rules.
Lari as a Nike-role model for Arab women
In September, she competed in the qualifying games for the 2018 Winter Olympics, although did not qualify."My
goals go beyond being the first person to represent the UAE at a Winter Olympics," she says. "I want to compete
at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and the World Championships."
In 2017, as her profile rose, she also participated in Nike's online campaign, "What Will They Say About You?",
with a number of other Arab female athletes to encourage women in the region to push the boundaries when pursuing
their dreams.
And while she is currently completing a degree in environment health and safety at Abu Dhabi University, her long-term dream is to become a figure skating trainer.
Lari's family is embedded in her career: she is managed by her mother, American-born Roquiya Cochran, who is also the CEO of the Emirates Skating Club, the first formally recognized club in the country, which was founded by Lari's father, Fadhel.
The skating club now has 75 members. "Unfortunately, we only have one ice rink in Abu Dhabi, and hockey has priority for the ice bookings," says Lari. "For me, this is a struggle because it really makes my training difficult.
But Lari remains positive about the future, and her message for others is simple. "Train hard, stay focused, love it, and give it your all. It's never too late to believe in yourself and accomplish your goals."
Source: www.cnn.com