Zahra Lari
| Zahra Lari | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | March 3, 1995 Abu Dhabi |
| Hometown | Abu Dhabi |
| Figure skating career | |
| Country | United Arab Emirates |
| Coach | Bianka Padar |
| Began skating | 2007 |
Zahra Lari (born March 3, 1995) is an Emirati figure skater and the first figure skater from the United Arab Emirates to compete internationally. She is a five-time Emirati national champion (2016, 2018).
Personal life
Zahra Lari is from Abu Dhabi, UAE. Her mother is from North Carolina and had converted to Islam prior to meeting her Emirati father at a university in Atlanta, Georgia.[1] She was inspired to try figure skating at the age of 11, after watching the Disney film Ice Princess, and was able to begin skating lessons at the age of 13.[2] She is currently a student at Abu Dhabi University, where she studies environmental health and safety, though she hopes to pursue a career as a skating coach.[1] In 2017, she was included in a Nike, Inc. ad featuring Muslim women athletes.[3]
A practicing Muslim, Lari is also the first figure skater to compete in a hijab.[4] She hopes to serve as an inspiration to other young women.[5]
Programs
| Season | Short program | Free skating |
|---|---|---|
| 2019–20[6] |
| |
| 2018–19 [7] | ||
| 2016–18 [7] |
|
Career
Early career
Lari began learning to skate at the age of 13 at Zayed Sports City. Although her mother was initially supportive, it took some time before her father would let her compete, preferring she continued skating as a hobby. However, after he saw how passionate she was about the sport, he relented.[8]
2011–12 season
Her junior international debut was in the 2011-12 season at the European Cup in Canazei, Italy. She received a deduction due to her headscarf, as it was not an approved part of the costume. However, after taking up the issue with the ISU, they changed the rule, allowing for headscarves to be worn in competition.[1]
2013–14 season
Lari competed at three international junior competitions. She placed 7th at the Dubai Golden Cup, 12th at the New Year's Cup, and 26th at the Sportland Trophy.
2014–15 season
Lari began competing at the senior level and placed 4th at the FBMA Trophy – her best international placement to date. She also competed at the 2015 International Challenge Cup and placed 11th.
2017–18 season
2018–19 season
Lari competed at the 2019 Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk, Russia and is the first Emirati to compete in the Winter Universiade.[9]
Impact
A documentary about Lari, Ice Princess, highlighting Lari's career and Disney's influence on her and including interviews with many involved in the making the film, is currently in Pre-Production with Størmerlige Productions as a result of the #DreamBigPrincess campaign and Lari's lasting impact on women and sport in the Middle East and beyond. [10]
Competitive highlights
| International | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | 13–14 | 14–15 | 15–16 | 16–17 | 17–18 | 18-19 | 19-20 |
| CS Alpen Trophy | 28th | ||||||
| CS Lombardia | WD | ||||||
| CS Nebelhorn | 33rd | ||||||
| CS Tallinn Trophy | 28th | ||||||
| Asian Games | 18th | ||||||
| Bavarian Open | 15th | ||||||
| Cup of Tyrol | 25th | 19th | |||||
| EduSport Trophy | 8th | ||||||
| Egna Spring Trophy | 12th | ||||||
| FBMA Trophy | 4th | 5th | 15th | 10th | |||
| Golden Bear | 13th | ||||||
| Halloween Cup | 16th | ||||||
| Int. Challenge Cup | 11th | ||||||
| Skate Helena | 14th | ||||||
| Merano Cup | 16th | ||||||
| Slovenia Open | 23rd | ||||||
| Winter Universiade | 29th | ||||||
| International: Junior | |||||||
| Dubai Golden Cup | 7th | ||||||
| New Year's Cup | 12th | ||||||
| Sportland Trophy | 26th | ||||||
| National | |||||||
| Emirati Champ. | 1st | 1st | |||||
| J = Junior level | |||||||
Detailed Results
Senior career
| 2017–18 season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| January 5-7, 2017 | FBMA Trophy 2017 | Senior | 15 24.17 |
15 50.59 |
15 74.76 |
| 2016–17 season | |||||
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| April 6 - 9, 2017 | Egna Spring Trophy | Senior | 12 25.81 |
12 51.86 |
12 77.67 |
| February 28 - March 5, 2017 | Cup of Tyrol 2017 | Senior | 24 25.90 |
26 54.19 |
25 80.09 |
| February 19–26, 2017 | 2017 Asian Winter Games | Senior | 19 23.31 |
17 53.37 |
18 76.68 |
| January 17–21, 2017 | 10th Europa Cup Skate Helena | Senior | 15 21.87 |
13 50.69 |
14 72.56 |
| January 5–7, 2017 | FBMA Trophy 2017 | Senior | 17 24.17 |
16 50.59 |
16 74.76 |
| November 10–13, 2016 | 19th ISU Merano Cup 2016 | Senior | 17 19.95 |
16 45.67 |
16 65.62 |
| 2015–16 season | |||||
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| January 22–23, 2016 | FBMA Trophy 2016 | Senior | 5 20.50 |
5 41.37 |
5 61.87 |
| 2014–15 season | |||||
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| April 3–5, 2015 | FBMA Trophy 2015 | Senior | 4 25.81 |
4 46.66 |
4 72.47 |
| February 19–22, 2015 | International Challenge Cup 2015 | Senior | 12 19.65 |
11 39.51 |
11 59.16 |
Junior career
| 2013–14 season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| May 5-June 5, 2014 | Dubai Golden Cup 2014[11] | Junior | 4 25.70 |
7 39.70 |
7 65.40 |
| 2011–12 season | |||||
| April 9–13, 2012 | 2012 European Cup[12] | Junior | 15 | ||
See also
Further reading
- Hassan, Sarah. "Zahra Lari: Ice Princess in the Arabian Desert". CNN.
References
- ^ a b c Roberts, Hannah. "Zahra Lari on how she became the UAE's top figure skater". Financial Times. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ Healy, Melinda. "My UAE: Ice skater Zahra Lari hopes to take her blades to glory". The National. Abu Dhabi Media. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ Egarter, Simone. "Nike commercial celebrates Arab female athletes 'to inspire others'". CNN. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ Barranguet, Emmanuel. "Zahra Lari, the 'Ice Princess' in the hijab". Al Arabiya News. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ Kuruvilla, Carol. "This Muslim Figure Skater Is Determined To Make History At The Olympics". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ "Zahra Lari on Instagram: "When music meets sports... 🎶Ihab Darwish X Zahra Lari ⛸ I am thrilled to announce the exciting collaboration with Ihab Darwish, talented…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
- ^ a b "Zahra LARI". International Skating Union. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ Hogg, Camille. "PEOPLE: Meet Zahra Lari, the UAE's figure skating superstar". Abu Dhabi World Online. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ "Skater Lari waves the UAE flag at Winter Universiade". Gulf News. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ New Documentary to Focus on Skater's Life, Disney Film [1]
- ^ "Entries/Results". Dubai Golden Cup 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ "Results for ZAHRA Lari, Abu Dhabi Figure Skating Team, United Arab Emirates". European Criterium. Retrieved 3 March 2017.