‘You can’t swim’: The rejection that fuelled Maha Al Shehhi’s Olympic journey
Maha Al Shehhi was only 13 when she realised there was no established pathway for an Emirati girl who desired to swim competitively. But being told she was unable to train and swim lit a fire inside her that ultimately led her to the Olympics. “When I found out that I couldn’t swim in the first three years because I was a female, that hit me really hard. They were like, 'You can’t swim. We won’t…
Maha Al Shehhi, at just 13 years old, recognized that there was no established route for a female Emirati to compete in swimming. The stark rejection she faced - being told she could not swim, train or use a pool due to her gender - fueled her determination and led her on an Olympic journey. "When they said I couldn't swim, I thought, What do you mean?
I can." This fueled her resolve to create her own path. In 2024, Al Shehhi competed in the Paris Olympics, swimming the 200 metres freestyle in a personal best time of 2:17.17. She aims to make it normal for every female athlete to compete, without drawing attention to her gender. Al Shehhi grew up with her twin sister Mahra and younger sister Mira, collectively known as the 'M3'.
Their mother, a former athlete, played a pivotal role in supporting their sports journey. Their father, initially hesitant, eventually supported them fully once he saw their dedication. Despite the challenges, Al Shehhi admits to moments of doubt, but her family's unwavering support and her competitive spirit kept her going, driven by her desire to pave a clear path for future generations.
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- ‘You can’t swim’: The rejection that fuelled Maha Al Shehhi’s Olympic journey thenationalnews.com
