‘My mum is my fire’: UAE Olympic sprinter Maryam Al Farsi’s mission to give back
On the mirror in Maryam Al Farsi’s bathroom are coloured Post-it notes carrying the promises she makes herself every morning. “I will provide for my mum. I am strong. I will do this.” On the days she doubts herself, she reads them, walks out of her room and sees her mother working on her laptop, a reminder of why she must continue pursuing her dreams. Al Farsi is now 18, but two years ago in…
Maryam Al Farsi, the 18-year-old UAE Olympic sprinter, is driven by a powerful mission to provide for her family, especially her mother and her mother's twin sister. At just 16, she made history as the first Emirati sprinter to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris. Al Farsi's inspirations are her mother, Leila, and Leila's twin sister, Ilham, who are both strong pillars in her life.
However, Al Farsi faced a personal struggle at age 14 when she gave up athletics for nearly a year due to overwhelming pressure. It was her mother's encouragement that reignited her passion for the sport and led her to compete in Paris. Al Farsi's parents are divorced; her father is Emirati, and her mother is Iranian. She credits her mother for financing her entire life, from school and training to everyday expenses.
Al Farsi's ultimate goal is to attend Harvard Business School and become an entrepreneur, inspired by her mother's sacrifices in her education. Despite the sacrifices, Al Farsi misses out on social events and education to focus on her athletics, but she remains grateful for her mother's unwavering support.
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