Dubai - Zainab has undertaken the Dubai Fitness Challenge with great zeal.
Published: Sat 3 Nov 2018, 9:31 PM
Iraqi national Zainab Aleqabi, 28, lost her left leg at the age of seven when a bomb went off in her home in Baghdad. She moved to the UAE in 2001 and later on joined the Sharjah University, where she studied pharmacy.
"I was never into sports, and to be honest, it is not very much encouraged in our culture for girls to be into gyms, workouts or sports. While at university, I started experiencing back pains and the doctor said it was because of the way she walked.
"The doctor told me, 'if you don't take care of it now then it may get worse and affect your mobility'. He then asked me to be so dedicated that people should know that if I was not around them then I could be at gym or swimming to strengthen my back."
Zainab was unhappy and cried after the doctor advised her to get into fitness as she felt she was being forced to do these sports activities. "I didn't even know how to swim then so I went to my sports coach at the university. I asked her whether I could swim, showing her my one leg and she said: 'Don't ask silly questions, just wear your swimming costume and come'. My coach told me never to think there is any sport that I can't do. She really got me into swimming and made me swim."
After college, Zainab couldn't go for swimming regularly due to limited ladies-only swimming pools in her area and that's when she started working out at the gym and fell in love with different kinds of workouts.
"I basically fell in love with the aspect of being fit and fitness then became a lifestyle and not an option for me. It's a way of healing, pampering and taking care of our own self. I realised that if I want to achieve more in my personal life and undertake different activities and adventures then I had to be fit," she said.
Zainab has undertaken the Dubai Fitness Challenge with great zeal and is also looking to take part in her second women's triathlon set to take place on November 9.
Zainab has over 1 million followers on Instagram and is an active influencer who motivates people to get fit through social media.
"To be fit comes naturally to me now but what the fitness challenge has done is that it has made me more motivated because we can follow up with people through the Dubai Fitness Challenge app and see how people are working out and updating their fitness levels. It has helped me push myself more and encourages us by showing different free classes where we can train with more like-minded people.
"When I see people work hard and able to achieve their fitness goals, it inspires me to work harder. It makes challenges look simple. Last year, I took part in the Dubai Women's triathlon and I am looking to join it again this year. The good part is that the triathlon also comes during the Dubai Fitness Challenge so all the more better.
Zainab, who swims, does weights at the gym and is also a cyclist, said: "My message to everyone is that never put an upper limit on yourself in terms of your dreams and achievements. Just work and develop yourself and utilise your time to the fullest. Love life and let no one bring you down."
saman@khaleejtimes.com
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