AMNA AL HADDAD

"Nobody can tell me what I can and cannot do."

---

Amna was a journalist, who often felt unhappy because she was unfit and overweight. So, she decided to just walk. And from that walk arose her passion for fitness. She soon ran long distances, sprinted, and started working out at the gym. When she discovered weightlifting, she knew it was the sport for her. However, she was not permitted to compete due to the many restrictions imposed upon her. Amna’s life changed when the International Weightlifting Federation allowed Muslim women to compete in a unitard (an outfit that covers all skin.) She competed in Europe and America, becoming an icon for Muslim girls across the world. She liked weightlifting so much that she also started training for the Olympic Games in Rio. She explains to young girls, “Being a girl does not mean you can’t be as strong as a boy, or even stronger!” She encourages everyone to pursue a sport: “Whatever your age, religion, or ethnicity, sport is good for everyone. It creates peace and it unites nations.”Today, Amna has taught us that no matter what the challenges are never walk away from your dream. The more you persist, the closer you are to get to your goals. When things get tough, just get tougher!