Zahra Lari
| Zahra Lari | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal information | |
| Country represented | United Arab Emirates |
| Born | March 3, 1995 Abu Dhabi |
| Home town | Abu Dhabi |
| Coach | Bohdan Berezenko |
| Former coach | Zsolt Kerekes, Emilia Ahsan , Alexandra Ievleva |
| Choreographer | Emilia Ahsan (SP), Mark Pilay (FS) |
| Training locations | Italy, Estonia, United Arab Emirates |
| Began skating | 2007 |
| ISU personal best scores | |
| Combined total | 81.58 2018 CS Tallinn Trophy |
| Short program | 27.98 2018 CS Tallinn Trophy |
| Free skate | 54.92 2018 CS Alpen Trophy |
Zahra Lari (born March 3, 1995), is an Emirati figure skater. She is the first figure skater from the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East to compete internationally. Lari is a five-time Emirati National Champion and has beaten the odds and achieved the highest level in spins, technique and triple jumps. She has accomplished this by dedication, passion and intensive training.
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 society 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[]
Zahra Lari is from Abu Dhabi, UAE where she resides with her parents and 2 brothers.Her father is from Iran. Zahra was inspired to try figure skating at the age of 12, after watching the Disney film Ice Princess, and was able to begin skating lessons shortly after.[1] She graduated from Abu Dhabi University, where she studied environmental health and safety, though she holds the title of CEO and Co-founder of Emirates Skating Club in Abu Dhabi.[2] In 2017, she was included in a Nike, Inc. ad featuring Muslim women athletes.[3]
Lari is also the first figure skater to compete internationally 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[]
Zahra Lari began learning to skate at the age of 12 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.[2]
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.
2015-16 season[]
Due to an injury, Zahra only competed at the FBMA Trophy that was held at her home rink.
2016-17 season[]
Zahra competed at the Asian Winter Games in Japan, Cup of Tyrol, EGNA Spring Trophy, FBMA Trophy in Abu Dhabi at her home rink, Skate Helena and Merano Cup.
2017–18 season[]
Zahra competed in the Nebelhorn Trophy (Olympic Qualifiers), Bavarian Open, Cup of Tyrol, FBMA trophy (held at her home rink), Golden Bear, Slovenia Open and UAE National Championship.
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]
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[10] | Junior | 4 25.70 |
7 39.70 |
7 65.40 |
| 2011–12 season | |||||
| April 9–13, 2012 | 2012 European Cup[11] | Junior | 15 | ||
See also[]
Further reading[]
- Hassan, Sarah. "Zahra Lari: Ice Princess in the Arabian Desert". CNN.
References[]
- ^ Healy, Melinda. "My UAE: Ice skater Zahra Lari hopes to take her blades to glory". The National. Abu Dhabi Media. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ a b Roberts, Hannah. "Zahra Lari on how she became the UAE's top figure skater". Financial Times. Retrieved 3 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...