UAE teenager Mariam Kareem’s stunning rise from school runner to Asian Games champion
After a dream summer that saw her place fourth in the 400m hurdles at the World Athletics U20 Championships and clinch gold at the Asian Games, Emirati teenager Mariam Kareem is still trying to wrap her head around everything she has accomplished over the past couple of months. The 18-year-old hurdler started her season running 57.39 seconds at a Grand Prix in Addis Ababa in April and finished it…
Emirati teenager Mariam Kareem, 18, has soared to prominence in the world of athletics, winning gold at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, and setting new records. The hurdler's ascent began three years ago when the UAE Athletics Federation noticed her potential at her high school in Dubai and local club. Encouraged by a mentor, Kareem, who initially loved running but was not keen on competing, took athletics seriously at just 16.
She set a personal best of 57.39 seconds at a Grand Prix in Addis Ababa in April, and her final season effort of 54.31 seconds in Japan secured her the gold medal and set both an Asian Games and Asian U20 record. Despite the pressure and challenges, including time zone change and illness, Kareem remains humble and focused on her achievements.
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