Loosely sticking with the theme of surreal things, I was stuck in a waiting room earlier today and caught the 200M women's qualifying race. What was most noticeable in the race was Rogaya Al-Gassra of Bahrain. While everyone else was waring skin-tight shorts and short tops, Al-Gassra chose to run while covered from head to toe. She had nothing but her face and hands showing!
I assume runners dress the way they do for the time and weight advantage it gives so to see someone waring a lot more than her counterparts was odd to say the least. She chose to be 'disadvantaged' in this race.
I take my hat off to her though as, amazingly, she crossed the finish line first. Sure it was just a qualifying race and I look forward to the final on Thursday but looking at the pictures and seeing the stark difference between her and the others, it made me think.....
13 comments:
>> it made me think
?
I havent seen pics of her but now you’ve aroused my curiosity I shall be promptly googling. When I play sports, especially outdoor/in a mixed environment, I will wear a very sport friendly (i.e short, and safe) scarf to replace the hijab I would usually wear. They even have hijab caps for badminton, tennis and other sports y’know. Good on her for respecting/practicing her faith and love for sports. Sometimes it isnt so easy,.
I've updated it with a picture shamelessly stolen from the Beijing 2008 website.
On an amateur level I can understand as your not going for world records and you can afford to loose that extra 10th of a second (or I least I would hope your not that competitive =)). What really impressed me is that she is willing to take that hit at an Olympic level!
Thanks for the pic – I can now rely on your blog for on demand, all round information :p
Hmm, to lose a questionable tenth of a second (in all fairness, I have never experienced a reduction in my sporting skills as a result of a piece of cloth tied to my head :p) OR not play at all as fundamentals of the muslim faith require the head to be covered? Its really a case of perception I guess.
I wonder what your opinions are on tennis players wearing a headband/cap as they usually do (just as an example). What about swimmers wearing a swimming cap?
Any time =)
Millions every year are spent making the running costumes and trainers more streamlined, more aerodynamic and lighter so adding things on must put her at a disadvantage (again, I mean in terms of the times Olympians are competing for).
Swimmers get an advantage with a swimming cap in terms of aerodynamics so it's either that or go bold.
So following your logic, the scarf would just form part of the sporting attire right? From what I have read the material although fully covered is not that different to what the others wear (definitely would need to be opaque though) And since professional headgear is now available what is to say they aren’t just as streamlined and easier to play in? Whats to say a ponytail is as speed reducing as a covered head? Anyway, enough of the inane rhetorical questions! I don’t wish to jump on the defense bandwagon for the sake of it, I guess my point is: for me to follow what you’re saying I would have to look at conclusive test results :- ) her coming first in this goes to show you have some way to go in proving your theory :p
So we need to book her into a wind tunnel for tests? =)
Let's see how Thursday's final goes but for the sake of fair test, we need to time her run with and then without a headscarf, I'm willing to bet there will be a noticeable difference.
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i was just trying to remember some much forgotten HTML! The above link is related to your blog entry..
Yes. She's aerodynamically sound.
Semifinal results, she didn't do too well, I think this one will remain unresolved....
It's nice of you to notice =)
Only because I didn’t think anyone got anywhere near my own stubborness..er.. levels. But alas. I think I have found someone who can strongly compete ! :p
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