From School Runner to Asian Games Champion: The Meteoric Rise of UAE Teenager Mariam Kareem

After a dream summer that included a fourth-place finish in the 400m hurdles at the World Athletics U20 Championships and a gold medal at the Asian Games, Emirati teenager Mariam Kareem is still processing her remarkable achievements over the past few months. The 18-year-old hurdler began her season with a time of 57.39 seconds at a Grand Prix in Addis Ababa in April and concluded it with a stunning 54.31 seconds to claim the top podium spot at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. Her impressive time in Japan not only secured the gold medal but also established a new Asian Games record and a new Asian U20 record in the 400m hurdles.

Reflecting on her performance in August, Kareem recalled clocking 56.27 seconds to finish fourth at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, just 0.28 seconds away from a podium finish. Although she anticipated a fast race at the Asian Games the following month, she never imagined shaving nearly two seconds off her personal best to win gold. Despite battling a time zone change, tension, and illness upon arriving in Japan, she managed to push through and focus on her events.

Kareem’s historic victory in Nagoya generated significant media attention across the UAE and the wider region, leading to a celebratory homecoming at the airport and a special event hosted by her sponsors 'On'. Discovered just three years ago by the UAE Athletics Federation while competing for her high school in Dubai and a local club, Kareem initially loved running without harboring ambitions for competitive sports. However, encouragement and mentorship from a federation coach persuaded her to take athletics seriously and transition from 200m and 400m flat events to the 400m hurdles.

Now enjoying some downtime during the offseason, Kareem has her sights set on future competitions, including the Olympics, the World Championship, and the Asian Championship, with a long-term dream of competing alongside her role model Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at the LA 2028 Olympics. Crediting her transformation to the core values of discipline, patience, and consistency instilled by athletics, Kareem remains focused on continuing to raise her country's flag on the international stage.