Saudi Women Trailblazers
In celebration of the upcoming International Women’s Day and our annual pocket run shindig in collaboration with Voltwomen. Jeddah Running Collective honors six Saudi trailblazers for their indelible contribution and stirring the achievements and uplifting the discussions of Saudi women in society. These are the badass ladies whom we admired most.
One of the first Saudi women who competed in the Olympics. Her name is almost ubiquitous and synonymous to Saudi women running. Always giving us incredible amount of inspiration and aspiration. The prolific artist & runner who literally helps ushered the next generations of women’s athlete in the Kingdom. The incredibly astonishing and incredibly down-to-earth, Sarah Attar — the original “that’s our girl!”
Raha Moharrak, is the graphic designer and a Nike Athlete, who made history by climbing the highest mountain in the world. She broke the taboo by not only surmounting Mount Everest but also giving younger women platform and something to aspire to. She did not just conquered the Everest but conquered our hearts as well.
Farah Al-Zahrani, the young Saudi brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighter is an accomplished athlete who competed at the Abu Dhabi World Jiu Jitsu Championship (finishing at 4th placed) and at the European Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championships in Lisbon. She continue to push the envelope and became one of the fiercest Arab woman fighters on the mat today. She said, bjj “has made her a more patient person and it teaches a form of self-control due to the extensive training required.” Indeed, patient is the operative word. Breaking barriers takes a lot of patience, that’s why we love her to the moon and back.
Mariam Saleh Binladen, the first woman in history (and the first Saudi) to complete the 100+ mile open-water swim at the River Thames. Setting the new record as the third person to do so. She encouraged more women to participate in sports and raise awareness of the plight of Syrian refugees.
Her symbolic completion swim knocked it out of the park and remind us that anything could possibly be reach with the right attitude, perseverance, patients and tons of courage. That’s why we earnestly adore her feisty spirit and just never-give-up mantra — another modern representation of Saudi women of today.
Lina Al-Meena, is the original purveyor of Saudi female empowerment (now sitting at the Saudi Shoura Council) thru her Jeddah United venture creating a platform for women and youth who wanted to play basketball, football and other activities. Founded in 2003 despite the absence of government reinforcement, Lina’s vision to generate potential Olympic level of players to compete in national and international events was truly bold and uncharted. And just like the collective, JU team was truly pioneering of its kind who don’t go muted but rather push changes and break down barriers.
Time is changing and when we look back ten years prior, Jeddah United and some of the sports groups who stayed low-profile for fear of shutting down are now an enduring landmark victory for women in the Kingdom.
Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani, who competed in the judo bout was one of the original two women represented Saudi Arabia in the London Olympics. She became equally iconic despite being not eligible based on international and regional ranking criteria. Her participation was nothing short but methodical that comes with an unbelievably excruciating remarks and criticism which exclusively imposed a special rules by the Saudi Olympic Committee. Despite the challenges, she managed to shattered everyone’s expectations and criticism.
After the Olympics the young judo athlete stayed low-key but nevertheless her commitment to the game transcended far both socially & culturally, re-wrote the narrative of women in sports in the Kingdom and truly earned as one of the local ground-breakers that give the country a powerful representation to the world. While she couldn’t crack to continue competing regionally she earned our spot and acknowledged her contribution of elevating our local female athlete’s aspirations. Truly one of our six Saudi women trailblazers that deserves to be recognize and cheer.
