Zahra Lari

Zahra Lari (born March 3, 1995) is an Emirati figure skater. She is the first figure skater from the UAE to compete internationally. A practicing Muslim, she is also the first figure skater to compete in a hijab. She hopes to become the first athlete to represent the UAE in the 2018 Winter Olympics, and to serve as an inspiration to other young women.

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. 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. 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. In 2017, she was included in a Nike, Inc. ad featuring Muslim women athletes.

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.

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.

Senior career

Junior career