A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman. Like it or not, there’s something extraordinary about a woman who manages to mark her territory in a man’s world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness, and the nerve to never take no for an answer. In order to salute the undying spirit of these women, Vatika- GCC’s leading natural hair care brand has launched a campaign called- ‘Vatika Voices’.
Through Vatika Voices, we aim to give that much-needed push to the girls of GCC. We aim to help women achieve their aspirations and shape society with their inspiring ideas and creations. Vatika Voices is a campaign that will help girls overcome all the hindrances and become an inspiration for the rest.
In the past, Vatika has also worked with popular and powerful Arab Celebrities and Influencers like Haifa Beseisso, Rima Zahran, Jood Aziz, Tamara Farra, Renee Farah and Yara Aziz and collectively, the brand has celebrated these powerful women and their success stories.
And now, Vatika brings to you the inspirational story of UAE Olympic rower Reem Ahmed Al Hassani, a popular name in the country’s history. After being named a jiu-jitsu champion in 2017, she won the Olympics in 2018. Well, certainly getting to the top was not a walk in the park. Being a woman, and an Emirati, Reem had her share of challenges to battle before success came calling.
It’s not often that we hear of Emirati women in sports, but Reem broke boundaries to become what she is today! Today, she is one of the first Emirati female rowers to represent the UAE. But she is not one to rest on her laurels. From choosing an off-beat career to making her mark in the sport, here’s how this rower got into the testing waters and lived her dreams.
A Passion For Sports
Right from her young days, Reem had a passion for sports. Back then in school, she took part in a lot of sporting events including track races, volleyball, marathons and much more. And, thankfully, her family was unlike any conventional Emirati household. Reem says she is blessed to have parents who have always been supportive and encouraged her to do better in whatever she did. She also recalls that her mother always pushed her to be a better version of herself, be it in sports or academics. Right from her childhood, her parents inspired her to work hard to achieve her goals.
“From the minute I decided sports was my calling, my family has been extremely supportive and so is the country I live in. My mother is my role model and my inspiration. I wouldn’t be here today if not for her. She was fully supportive of whatever I did and always pushed me to do better. Today, I’m thankful she did”.
Tackling Obstacles
While Reem had it all aligned, her journey was not devoid of challenges. In 2016, the rower was diagnosed with Optic Neuritis- a condition that makes one temporarily blind. Reem was treated for the same and was just as she was recovering, she got diagnosed with pneumonia in 2017. However, nothing stopped her from pursuing her passion for the sport. In fact, it was during this time that I found rowing to be very therapeutic.
“I feel this sport has been a blessing. I turned to a sport that changed my life, and my views. I took each day as a challenge.
Reem recalls that her toughest race was the Sharjah race. This was when she was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. Reem was so passionate about the race that she went against her doctor’s advice, and signed her discharge papers. She headed straight to the race, from the hospital. “My friends were shocked to see me on TV. I participated in the race, reached the finish line and fainted, Reem said.
Dreaming Big
Reem added that rowing has been a life changer and has helped her calm down. “Earlier even small things used to bog me down, but now I’m a much calmer person”. And her passion does not stop there! Reem is also working very hard to make Emirati women proud and that is one of her biggest dreams. The rower does not believe that society does not support women or is against women and is raring to make her country proud. “There will be no successful women without men and vice versa,” she said.
“Life is beautiful, don’t waste it. There’s a lot you can do, especially at a young age. Set goals for yourself and when you achieve it, you will see yourself as a true hero. Chase your dreams, your skills and find out who you are,” she signs off.
First Published: May 25, 2021 10:51 AM