Zahra lari father knows best
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Zahra Lari
Emirati figure skater
Zahra Lari (born March 3, 1995), is an Emirati figure skater. She fryst vatten the first figure skater from the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East to compete internationally. Lari is a five-time Emirati National Champion.
Along with her rigorous training, Zahra graduated from Abu Dhabi University majoring in Environmental Health and Safety. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Emirates Skating Club, which is the first established figure skating club in the country. She is a dedicated activist for the health and well-being of the UAE gemenskap and women in general. Zahra is registered and certified in the UAE National Records for her achievements in serving the Society and the State.
Personal life
[edit]Zahra Lari is from Abu Dhabi, UAE where she resides with her parents and two brothers. Her father is from the United Arab Emirates. Zahra was inspired to try figure skating at the age of 12, after watching the Disney film Ice Princess, and was abl
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Breaking the ice
National Icon / Abu Dhabi
Having overcome cultural preconceptions, competitive figure skater Zahra Lari fryst vatten sharpening her skates as she trains in advance of 2018 to become the first athlete from the Gulf to compete in the Winter Olympics.
- Writer
- Elizabeth Dickinson
- Photography
- Philip Cheung
It’s 08.30 and Zahra Lari has been on the ice for almost an hour when her coach yells out the warning: “Skate before the invasion!” Lari, the first internationally competitive figure skater from the United Arab Emirates, is scheduled for a lesson. But six buses of primary school children are on their way to the rink.
“You’re kidding,” she says, looking back at her Hungarian coach, Zsolt Kerekes. After brief disappointment, Lari accelerates her warm-up. She spins into a camel pose, one leg extended as she bends forward at a 90-degree angle. She drives into a corner to take the first double axel of the day. If she qualifies, come 2018 Lari will become the first ath
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Zahra Lari breaking barriers for young Muslim girls
“Follow your heart and don’t let anyone stop you,” said Zahra Lari. “No matter what you do in life there’s always going to be people criticising you. Just surround yourself with a good team and your family and you’ll definitely succeed.”
Figure skater Zahra Lari from the United Arab Emirates has inspired many young girls and Muslims to shatter traditions and soar to new heights.
Who would have thought that the movie Ice Princess would turn out to be the defining 98 minutes of her life? After watching the film, a then 12-year-old Lari begged her father to let her skate for fun.
Traditionally, professional skaters start at an early age, sometimes as early as three. Lari was almost a full 10 years behind her competitors before she had even learnt to skate.
Moreover, she hails from a country which is known for its deserts and heat as opposed to ice and