Dana Abdul-Razzaq is a female track runner in Iraq who has endured many obstacles in order to try and compete in the Olympics; she was the sole female athlete there. Iraq is a predominantly Muslim country that believes it is wrong for women to compete in sports, especially because they are dressed “immodestly”. Dana survived a drive-by shooting and a sniper fire while training. Most women would have given up their hopes and dreams under all the pressure; I admire Dana because she pressed forward when everything was against her. While most everyone that was trying to qualify for the Olympics had professional track shoes, Dana ran in regular tennis shoes. She many have not qualified for Beijing in the 2008 Olympics, but she is a great role model in her country and is creating advanced change for women that will affect all female lives in Iraq. No matter how hard the struggle, she will press on even if it means keeping herself in danger by extremist in her country.
Joy Soliman
Kin 338I.S1
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I read an article about female athletes from the middle east soon after I watched the Olympics. Bahrain sent a runner that ran in a uniform that covered all of her skin except her face. The article said that Muslim girls all over the world have been inspired by this athlete. It was interesting because Jewish girls and Catholic girls alike were also inspired. These runners that have fought through so many hardships to get to where they are inspire all women, not just the women from their own culture. It is amazing to see so many obstacles hurdled. It is already so difficult to make it to the Olympics, let alone with an entire country and religious radicals trying to stop you from obtaining your goals. I have so much respect for these athletes.
- Josh Kronz
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