Zahra Lari

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.

Zahra Lari
Born (1995-03-03) March 3, 1995
Abu Dhabi
HometownAbu Dhabi
Figure skating career
CountryUnited Arab Emirates
CoachBohdan Berezenko
Began skating2007

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 two 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 and light 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 [[hijab|, 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

CS: Challenger Series

International
Event 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 18-19 19-20
CS Alpen Trophy28th
CS LombardiaWD
CS Nebelhorn33rd
CS Tallinn Trophy28th
Asian Games18th
Bavarian Open15th
Cup of Tyrol25th19th
EduSport Trophy8th
Egna Spring Trophy12th
FBMA Trophy4th5th15th10th
Golden Bear13th
Halloween Cup16th
Int. Challenge Cup11th
Skate Helena14th
Merano Cup16th
Slovenia Open23rd
Winter Universiade29th
International: Junior
Dubai Golden Cup7th
New Year's Cup12th
Sportland Trophy26th
National
Emirati Champ.1st1st
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
  1. Healy, Melinda. "My UAE: Ice skater Zahra Lari hopes to take her blades to glory". The National. Abu Dhabi Media. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  2. Roberts, Hannah. "Zahra Lari on how she became the UAE's top figure skater". Financial Times. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  3. Egarter, Simone. "Nike commercial celebrates Arab female athletes 'to inspire others'". CNN. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  4. Barranguet, Emmanuel. "Zahra Lari, the 'Ice Princess' in the hijab". Al Arabiya News. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  5. Kuruvilla, Carol. "This Muslim Figure Skater Is Determined To Make History At The Olympics". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  6. "Zahra Lari on Instagram: "When music meets sports... 🎶Ihab Darwish X Zahra Lari ⛸ I am thrilled to announce the exciting collaboration with Ihab Darwish, talented…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-26. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  7. "Zahra LARI". International Skating Union. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  8. Hogg, Camille. "PEOPLE: Meet Zahra Lari, the UAE's figure skating superstar". Abu Dhabi World Online. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  9. "Skater Lari waves the UAE flag at Winter Universiade". Gulf News. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  10. "Entries/Results". Dubai Golden Cup 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  11. "Results for ZAHRA Lari, Abu Dhabi Figure Skating Team, United Arab Emirates". European Criterium. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
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