Breaking free

For several years, Bahrain has had good sprinters, but never a female champion. Now, there is Rakia Al Gassra.

Wherever the 25-year-old woman races, eyes and cameras follow her. She is the first woman from a Gulf country to compete against international champions, but also because she insists on wearing the veil.

"She has always worn the veil, and never felt awkward about it despite racing in several countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. In fact, in some countries, she received great encouragement because she is wearing the veil," her first trainer, Lubna Al Nayem, told Gulf News.

"In Malaysia, she was given a remarkable welcome. She had a special motorcade from the airport right to the hotel. Malaysia was truly amazing," she said.

It was a long way for Rakia, the girl born on September 6, 1982 in Bani Jamra, a small, but proud village west of Manama, where women still press for limited social acceptance.

With the total absence of sports facilities, it was hardly the right conditions that could destine Rakia to breakthrough athletic achievements and to being received with pomp and fanfare by international political and sports leaders.

Rakia started as basketball player with her middle school team.

"I always liked running, but did not compete until my physical education teacher asked me to join the school track team," said Rakia as she reminisced on her journey to glory.

"Another female teacher, Sawsan Taqawi afterwards took me to the national track field where I started practicing under the guidance of Ahmad Hamada and Sadeef Juma. But with the launch by the Bahrain Athletics Association of an official development programme to promote women's sports activities, I came under the wing of Lubna Al Nayem. It was 2000 and I was selected to take part in the Arab youth championship in Damascus. I came sixth in the race," she said.

But for Lubna, that participation was to signal the hopeful birth of a Bahraini star who would slowly, but inexorably replace the young girl who was nervously making her first serious public strides.

"She was a young girl who came to train with a friend. She was soon on her own because her friend had health problems and withdrew from practice. Rakia was special of course and we could feel her determination," said Lubna.

"Girls and boys at that time had separate training grounds, but we gradually started bringing them together, mainly because of the limited equipment. What really helped was the tremendous support we received from the parents and families of the athletes," said Lubna.

In 2001, Rakia ran in Tehran and came third in the 400-metre race.

Her new coach, Algerian national Noureddine Tadjine says she knew that Rakia would be a star.

"In the beginning, she used to train for a couple of hours three days a week," he said.

But as her ambitions grew, she needed harder training, more time and greater motivation. She was no longer content to run. She wanted to be a champion.

"We made outstanding efforts to have Rakia ready physically and psychologically because it was not easy for a young woman from the Gulf to depart from traditions to engage in sports activities, and particularly field track," Noureddine said. "We were able to move forward smoothly thanks to the determination and perseverance of Rakia who showed a strong sense of purpose."

The results proved that she was right to seek higher goals.

Competing in Tehran in the All-Women Games for Muslim and Asian Capitals in 2004, she bagged three silver medals in the 60, 100 and 200 metres.

In the Athens Olympics Rakia made history by becoming the first Arab woman to run in the 100-metre race.

World's attention

Her time was not impressive by international standards, but her outfit was the focus of attention of the media and the spectators.

Rakia has always competed fully covered, and she was determined that the world's attention would not make her give up her conservative clothes.

"I never thought about wearing a different outfit. I have always been proud of my Islamic clothes and never thought of them as a source of problems. When I was selected for Olympics, I thought about how I could help advance sports among Muslim women while at the same time give the world an idea about what Muslim women could do as athletes," Rakia said.

According to Lubna, Rakia has never had any negative experience.

"Curious looks, yes, but insults or verbal abuse, no! In fact, in some countries, she won notoriety for her achievements on the track, and instant love from the people for not removing her veil."

But when Bahrain started to believe firmly in remarkable international achievements by their superstar Rakia, she stunned the nation by announcing that she was retiring from the competition because she wanted to settle down and start a family after she got engaged.

The decision was, however, respected by Bahrainis who still looked on the marriage institution as the natural destiny of any woman. Even when she is a rising star.

But shortly afterwards, Rakia announced that she was returning to the track. "The engagement did not last, but the break-up was not sports-related," Lubna said.

Regardless of the reasons, the track to glory in the world's top fields for Bahrain's female prodigy was wide open.

Have your say
What do you think about Rakia's insistence on wearing a veil during sporting events?

This shows the determination of women and how strong she is in her belief and respect for her culture. I believe she should continue wearing a veil all the time. I wish her all the best.
R. A Khateeb
Abu Dhabi,UAE

I am trully amazed and proud of my Muslim sister's achievement. I am also proud that she is able to keep her traditional clothes (Hijab). Keep running and show the world that Muslim women are not oppressed.
Said
London,UK

Well done, Rakia. Just amazing. No doubt, Muslim women have all the potential like anybody else and they could prove it even keeping with their traditional religious attire. Very good write-up indeed.
T. Khan
Miami,USA

I like how she is not leaving her beliefs and i think it is her right to wear the veil. She is setting a positive example for women who still want to wear the veil but are pressurised or mocked into not wearing it.
Asad
Islamabad,Pakistan

This the best thing she has done by showing the world that you can wear the veil and still compete in sports. Others should follow suit.
A. Dharamsi
Zanzibar,Tanzania

Well, depends on where you are. It is always better to follow the local custom and the local religion. You have to respect those if you want others to respect yours.
Biju
Mumbai,India

Brilliant! We Westerners can't help but admire such role models from the Gulf. Compared to our almost naked sprinters, she is well above the rest. We in the West have a lot to learn from the Islamic World.
J. Luke
London,UK