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Ice Princess Zahra Lari – An Example for Women of Faith
By Ashley McGuire
She’s been called the “Ice Princess in the Hijab.” And, I think she rocks. Zahra Lari is a 17-year-old Olympic figure-skating hopeful from the United Arab Emirates. And you can’t miss her because she wears a black hijab instead of sparkly hair clips and nylon pants instead of the characteristic shiny nude tights. I love seeing a Muslim woman as a competitive athlete. I just love it. I was crushed when the Iranian women’s soccer team was disqualified from the Olympics because of their headscarves.
I thought it was misogynistic to tell those women, already living under a regime that is restrictive to women, that their dream was off-limits simply because they were lawful Iranian women covering their heads. The images of those strong women, humiliated and crying on the field, was devastating.
As a non-Muslim, I have my own mixed views about the hjiab. I don’t understand why a woman would have to cover her hair to be modest. But I have also seen and met Muslim women who embrace the headscarf or the hijab who have a twinkle in their eyes and a freedom in their spirit that must come from shielding oneself from our grasping, hyper-sexualized world.
And I know non-Catholics might look at my faith’s teaching against artificial contraception, for example, as backwards and oppressive, as many rush to label the hijab. But I am grateful and appreciative towards those who try to understand, or at least recognize that I find freedom and dignity in the choice to obey that teaching.
As women of faith, we owe each other understanding and support in our choices that may defy the culture’s terms for our empowerment. It is our right to follow our consciences and make religious choices. And whether the state tries to take that right away through the law, or whether society tries to shame us away from our rights, women of faith should be allies in defending one another’s right to religious choice.
Zahra Lari could have run away from her family and defied the hijab. She probably would have become some feminist hero for doing so. But I think she is a feminist hero nonetheless. She became the first woman in the world to compete in international figure skating in a hijab. In my book, that is more noteworthy than being the first woman to land a quadruple axel. Because that takes a kind of courage that stirs only the deepest part of the soul. She made a choice that would no doubt engender scrutiny from the ultra-conservative religious community that doesn’t want to see a woman dancing on skates and from the liberal pundits who don’t like seeing women in a Muslim headcovering.
Guts, my friends. Guts.
Speaking of her ambition, Lari recently said, “In my country women don’t do much sport and even less figure skating. . . . I want to encourage girls from the Emirates and the Gulf to achieve their dream too and not to let anyone tell them not to do sport, not only figure skating but all sports.” And defending her hijab, she said, “I skate with the hijab, my costume is in line with Islamic tradition.”
Her defense was refreshingly simple and straightforward, almost as if to say, “I don’t really owe you an explanation.”
Zahra Lari exemplifies to the world that you can be a practicing Muslim woman who is competitive, ambitious, and bold. That is a good example for all women of faith, particularly in a world that increasingly views religion as incompatible with female strength and empowerment.
Lari brought to mind the 1980s classic movie, Chariots of Fire. The film centers around two athletes: Eric Liddell, a Scottish Christian who runs for the express purpose of glorifying God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome anti-Semitism. Both men refuse to compromise their faith for the sport, and they are better athletes because of it.
Whether she intended it or not, Zahra Lari has brought Chariots of Fire to the rink. But she is a woman in a part of the world where women are still barred from many opportunities. And a Muslim in a time when anti-Muslim sentiment runs strong. She has brought Chariots of Fire to a whole new level.
So rock on, Ms. Lari.
Ice Princess Zahra Lari – An Example for Women of Faith
From her castle an ice princess can see Korea2018
It’s great to watch,” said the young Emirati with a big dream. “I’m thinking I might be in their place in four years’ time.”
When Zahra Lari sits down Thursday night to view the climax of the women’s figure skating competition at the Sochi Games, she would be forgiven for allowing her mind to drift a little. To dream that big dream.
Lari, the UAE’s first international ice skater, has her heart set on making the 2018 Winter Olympics at Pyeongchang, South Korea. It would be a remarkable culmination of an unlikely journey, one that started belatedly in Abu Dhabi but has gathered speed over the past few years.
“First up, let me say that age 11 is definitely late to start skating,” the 18-year-old Emirati said. “Usually, skaters start at three or four, but this shows that I’m dedicated. I worked so hard to get to this level.”
Nicknamed Ice Princess – from the Disney film that got her hooked on ice skating – Lari said commitment to the sport has turned her into the skater she is today.
“At the beginning, it was just a hobby, something to do after school,” Lari said. “For the first three years I trained maybe once a week.”
For the past three years, however, she has trained twice a day, six days per week. “If I was still training maybe once a week, I would never have made it this far,” she said. Those long hours on Zayed Sport City’s ice rink eventually paid off. “In 2012 we had a coach come over from Romania, and she said that I was ready to compete internationally.”
That coach was Noemi Bedo, and under her watchful eye Lari has steadily been making up for lost time. International competition, as the Gulf’s first and only figure skater, followed.
All her overseas competitions had “a special meeting”, Lari said.
“In Italy it was the first time that the interviews started and I was getting attention,” Lari said, recalling the 2012 European Cup at Canazei, where she finished in the top 15 in the junior category.
Her elegant attire, including hijab, meant she stood out from the competition. On the ice, her performances soared.
Next up was the European Criterium Cup, in Budapest, where she finished first in one of the categories, “which was a highlight”.
The improvements continued. At the Skating Union competition in Slovakia last month, Lari posted her highest competitive score yet to finish 12th.
Those experiences have whetted her appetite for more success. Lari is a keen student of figure skating, inspired by the best male as well as female performers.
“When I started out I liked Sasha Cohen, but she’s retired now,” Lari said of the 2006 Olympic silver medallist from the US. “And Evan Lysacek of the US came to our rink in Abu Dhabi and asked to skate with me. He also showed me his 2010 gold medal. It was so heavy.”
At Sochi, the Canadian Patrick Chan, who took the silver medal, remains a favorite for Lari, but she is also keeping tabs on one of the newer sensations.
“The ladies competition will be an interesting event,” she said ahead. “In the team competition the 15-year-old [Russian] Julia Lipnitskaia won a gold medal, the first time that has happened.”
Lari says she looks up to many skaters, and she is consistently striving to improve her technical skills, in particular the jumps and their multiple rotations.
“I have recently been able to conquer the dreaded double Axel and am now working on making my triple Salchow consistent,” she said. “My triple toe loop and loop are also close. It takes a lot of effort but I am positive that I will conquer these as well.”
As a sideline to her skating practice, Lari has often taken up other disciplines to improve her balance, technique and poise, such as ballet and gymnastics. “But not seriously,” she is quick to point out. “My focus is on skating.”
The UAE’s accreditation by the International Skating Union now paves the way for Lari to target the 2018 Olympics.
Watching the action at Sochi has put the size of that task in context.
“It makes me realize how hard I have to work to get there,” she said. “It’s not easy to say or do this.”
But she is willing to dedicate her life towards the ambition of becoming the first Emirati to take part in a Winter Olympics.
“I have to live, eat and sleep skating in the next four years to make it to the 2018 Olympics.”
Read more: Emirati ice princess spins and leaps while focused on 2018 Korea | The National
Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook
By Ashley McGuire
She’s been called the “Ice Princess in the Hijab.” And, I think she rocks. Zahra Lari is a 17-year-old Olympic figure-skating hopeful from the United Arab Emirates. And you can’t miss her because she wears a black hijab instead of sparkly hair clips and nylon pants instead of the characteristic shiny nude tights. I love seeing a Muslim woman as a competitive athlete. I just love it. I was crushed when the Iranian women’s soccer team was disqualified from the Olympics because of their headscarves.
I thought it was misogynistic to tell those women, already living under a regime that is restrictive to women, that their dream was off-limits simply because they were lawful Iranian women covering their heads. The images of those strong women, humiliated and crying on the field, was devastating.
As a non-Muslim, I have my own mixed views about the hjiab. I don’t understand why a woman would have to cover her hair to be modest. But I have also seen and met Muslim women who embrace the headscarf or the hijab who have a twinkle in their eyes and a freedom in their spirit that must come from shielding oneself from our grasping, hyper-sexualized world.
And I know non-Catholics might look at my faith’s teaching against artificial contraception, for example, as backwards and oppressive, as many rush to label the hijab. But I am grateful and appreciative towards those who try to understand, or at least recognize that I find freedom and dignity in the choice to obey that teaching.
As women of faith, we owe each other understanding and support in our choices that may defy the culture’s terms for our empowerment. It is our right to follow our consciences and make religious choices. And whether the state tries to take that right away through the law, or whether society tries to shame us away from our rights, women of faith should be allies in defending one another’s right to religious choice.
Zahra Lari could have run away from her family and defied the hijab. She probably would have become some feminist hero for doing so. But I think she is a feminist hero nonetheless. She became the first woman in the world to compete in international figure skating in a hijab. In my book, that is more noteworthy than being the first woman to land a quadruple axel. Because that takes a kind of courage that stirs only the deepest part of the soul. She made a choice that would no doubt engender scrutiny from the ultra-conservative religious community that doesn’t want to see a woman dancing on skates and from the liberal pundits who don’t like seeing women in a Muslim headcovering.
Guts, my friends. Guts.
Speaking of her ambition, Lari recently said, “In my country women don’t do much sport and even less figure skating. . . . I want to encourage girls from the Emirates and the Gulf to achieve their dream too and not to let anyone tell them not to do sport, not only figure skating but all sports.” And defending her hijab, she said, “I skate with the hijab, my costume is in line with Islamic tradition.”
Her defense was refreshingly simple and straightforward, almost as if to say, “I don’t really owe you an explanation.”
Zahra Lari exemplifies to the world that you can be a practicing Muslim woman who is competitive, ambitious, and bold. That is a good example for all women of faith, particularly in a world that increasingly views religion as incompatible with female strength and empowerment.
Lari brought to mind the 1980s classic movie, Chariots of Fire. The film centers around two athletes: Eric Liddell, a Scottish Christian who runs for the express purpose of glorifying God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome anti-Semitism. Both men refuse to compromise their faith for the sport, and they are better athletes because of it.
Whether she intended it or not, Zahra Lari has brought Chariots of Fire to the rink. But she is a woman in a part of the world where women are still barred from many opportunities. And a Muslim in a time when anti-Muslim sentiment runs strong. She has brought Chariots of Fire to a whole new level.
So rock on, Ms. Lari.
Ice Princess Zahra Lari – An Example for Women of Faith
From her castle an ice princess can see Korea2018
It’s great to watch,” said the young Emirati with a big dream. “I’m thinking I might be in their place in four years’ time.”
When Zahra Lari sits down Thursday night to view the climax of the women’s figure skating competition at the Sochi Games, she would be forgiven for allowing her mind to drift a little. To dream that big dream.
Lari, the UAE’s first international ice skater, has her heart set on making the 2018 Winter Olympics at Pyeongchang, South Korea. It would be a remarkable culmination of an unlikely journey, one that started belatedly in Abu Dhabi but has gathered speed over the past few years.
“First up, let me say that age 11 is definitely late to start skating,” the 18-year-old Emirati said. “Usually, skaters start at three or four, but this shows that I’m dedicated. I worked so hard to get to this level.”
Nicknamed Ice Princess – from the Disney film that got her hooked on ice skating – Lari said commitment to the sport has turned her into the skater she is today.
“At the beginning, it was just a hobby, something to do after school,” Lari said. “For the first three years I trained maybe once a week.”
For the past three years, however, she has trained twice a day, six days per week. “If I was still training maybe once a week, I would never have made it this far,” she said. Those long hours on Zayed Sport City’s ice rink eventually paid off. “In 2012 we had a coach come over from Romania, and she said that I was ready to compete internationally.”
That coach was Noemi Bedo, and under her watchful eye Lari has steadily been making up for lost time. International competition, as the Gulf’s first and only figure skater, followed.
All her overseas competitions had “a special meeting”, Lari said.
“In Italy it was the first time that the interviews started and I was getting attention,” Lari said, recalling the 2012 European Cup at Canazei, where she finished in the top 15 in the junior category.
Her elegant attire, including hijab, meant she stood out from the competition. On the ice, her performances soared.
Next up was the European Criterium Cup, in Budapest, where she finished first in one of the categories, “which was a highlight”.
The improvements continued. At the Skating Union competition in Slovakia last month, Lari posted her highest competitive score yet to finish 12th.
Those experiences have whetted her appetite for more success. Lari is a keen student of figure skating, inspired by the best male as well as female performers.
“When I started out I liked Sasha Cohen, but she’s retired now,” Lari said of the 2006 Olympic silver medallist from the US. “And Evan Lysacek of the US came to our rink in Abu Dhabi and asked to skate with me. He also showed me his 2010 gold medal. It was so heavy.”
At Sochi, the Canadian Patrick Chan, who took the silver medal, remains a favorite for Lari, but she is also keeping tabs on one of the newer sensations.
“The ladies competition will be an interesting event,” she said ahead. “In the team competition the 15-year-old [Russian] Julia Lipnitskaia won a gold medal, the first time that has happened.”
Lari says she looks up to many skaters, and she is consistently striving to improve her technical skills, in particular the jumps and their multiple rotations.
“I have recently been able to conquer the dreaded double Axel and am now working on making my triple Salchow consistent,” she said. “My triple toe loop and loop are also close. It takes a lot of effort but I am positive that I will conquer these as well.”
As a sideline to her skating practice, Lari has often taken up other disciplines to improve her balance, technique and poise, such as ballet and gymnastics. “But not seriously,” she is quick to point out. “My focus is on skating.”
The UAE’s accreditation by the International Skating Union now paves the way for Lari to target the 2018 Olympics.
Watching the action at Sochi has put the size of that task in context.
“It makes me realize how hard I have to work to get there,” she said. “It’s not easy to say or do this.”
But she is willing to dedicate her life towards the ambition of becoming the first Emirati to take part in a Winter Olympics.
“I have to live, eat and sleep skating in the next four years to make it to the 2018 Olympics.”
Read more: Emirati ice princess spins and leaps while focused on 2018 Korea | The National
Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook
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