Zahra Lari

Zahra Lari (born March 3, 1995) is an Emirati figure skater and the first figure skater from the United Arab Emirates to compete internationally. She is a five-time Emirati national champion (2016, 2018).

Zahra Lari
Personal information
Country representedUnited Arab Emirates
Born (1995-03-03) March 3, 1995
Abu Dhabi
Home townAbu Dhabi
CoachBianka Padar
Former coachZsolt Kerekes, Emilia Ahsan
ChoreographerEmilia Ahsan (SP), Mark Pilay (FS)
Training locationsItaly, Estonia, United Arab Emirates
Began skating2007
ISU personal best scores
Combined total81.58
2018 CS Tallinn Trophy
Short program27.98
2018 CS Tallinn Trophy
Free skate54.92
2018 CS Alpen Trophy

Personal life

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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[1] In 2017, she was included in a Nike, Inc. ad featuring Muslim women athletes.[3]

A practicing Muslim, Lari is also the first figure skater to compete 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]
2017–18 [7]
2016–17 [7]

Career

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.[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.[1]

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.

2017–18 season


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]

Impact

A documentary about Lari, Ice Princess, highlighting Lari's career and Disney's influence on her and including interviews with many involved in the making the film, is currently in Pre-Production with Størmerlige Productions as a result of the #DreamBigPrincess campaign and Lari's lasting impact on women and sport in the Middle East and beyond. [10]

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 Trophy 8th
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[11] Junior 4
25.70		 7
39.70		 7
65.40
2011–12 season
April 9–13, 2012 2012 European Cup[12] Junior 15

See also

Further reading
  • Hassan, Sarah. "Zahra Lari: Ice Princess in the Arabian Desert". CNN.

References
  1. Roberts, Hannah. "Zahra Lari on how she became the UAE's top figure skater". Financial Times. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  2. Healy, Melinda. "My UAE: Ice skater Zahra Lari hopes to take her blades to glory". The National. Abu Dhabi Media. Retrieved 4 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. 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. New Documentary to Focus on Skater's Life, Disney Film
  11. "Entries/Results". Dubai Golden Cup 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  12. "Results for ZAHRA Lari, Abu Dhabi Figure Skating Team, United Arab Emirates". European Criterium. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
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