From Rejection to Olympics: Maha Al Shehhi's Fight to Pave the Way for Emirati Female Athletes

Maha Al Shehhi discovered at just 13 years old that a competitive swimming path for Emirati girls was virtually non-existent. However, the initial rejection she faced—being told she couldn't train or swim—ignited a determination that propelled her to the Olympic stage. "When I found out that I couldn’t swim in the first three years because I was a female, that hit me really hard. They were like, 'You can’t swim. We won’t give you a pool; it’s impossible'. I was like, 'What do you mean? I can swim,'" she recalled.

Her family actively sought a pool that would permit her and her sisters to train alongside boys. This very lack of a clear pathway became the catalyst for her resolve to create one. "I feel like that was the time when it hit me. I should be a change," the 20-year-old shared with The National during an interview as part of Middlesex University's 'Dubai Women in Sport' series. In 2024, Al Shehhi proudly represented the UAE at the Paris Olympics, achieving a personal best of 2:17.17 in the 200 metres freestyle. She emphasizes that true progress lies in dismantling the novelty surrounding female athletes. "The way we talk about females is always a surprise. We never say, 'Great, she’s a female; she did it like how a man would do it'," she observed. Instead, she notes, there's an element of surprise when a woman competes. "My goal is to make it normal. For everyone," she stated, believing that normalizing female participation across all sports is essential for advancement.

Al Shehhi's family has been a cornerstone of her journey, encouraging her and her two sisters to pursue their passions. "They always told me that whatever you’re going to pursue, make sure you finish it. You can’t start something without finishing it," she said. Consequently, she, along with her twin sister Mahra and younger sister Mira, embraced the sport together, becoming known as 'M3'—the three Al Shehhis—and all went on to represent the UAE.

Sport is deeply ingrained in their family. Maha's mother, who is Polish, had a background in athletics during her youth. Their father, an Emirati, initially found it challenging to reconcile his perception of sports environments as predominantly male with his daughters' involvement. However, their unwavering commitment eventually earned his full support. "He did have a rough time trying to understand but then he saw the 4am training and the 5pm training and he saw how dedicated we were so he was like, ‘You know what, I’ll always support you. I’m your father. I’m here for you. Just know I’ll be the backbone of everything’," Al Shehhi recounted. "Our mother is the support system. She makes sure that every training session I go to, I smile. Everyone has this thing with me that if you don’t see Maha smiling, it’s a bad thing; it’s the end of the world. She always makes sure I’m happy. She makes sure that I’m doing it for myself and if I feel low, she's like do it for me and it motivates me. She always reminds me that I’m also doing it for the younger generation; that's my priority and I really want to just make a clear path."

Despite her success, Al Shehhi has contemplated quitting at times. A robust support system, coupled with her competitive spirit and a drive to defy limitations, has been crucial. She attributes this resilience partly to her heritage, noting, "When it comes to swimming and when it comes to fighting in the pool or racing, it’s the Polish blood coming out."

Emiratis often speak with pride of Eyal Zayed, the sons of Zayed, named after the nation’s founding father. Al Shehhi aspires for similar recognition for ‘Banat Zayed’, his daughters. She envisions a future where subsequent generations face fewer obstacles in accessing pools, sponsorships, and equipment. "My goal is to make sure the girls that are coming right after me or in any other sport feel like they shouldn’t go through the challenges I went through because I would never wish that on my worst enemy, honestly," she expressed. Al Shehhi estimates that approximately 90 percent of parents she encounters still discourage their daughters from participating in sports, citing concerns about swimsuits, mixed training environments, or the perception of sports as a mere distraction from academics. Al Shehhi often volunteers to speak with parents to alleviate their worries. "Let her enjoy what she wants to do. You can't force her to just study and then spend the day doing nothing. If she feels like she wants to do a sport, let her. Let her run, let her jog, let her do anything. But let her experience what she wants to experience," she advised.