In 2012, Nada Arkaji made history when she became the first-ever female Olympian from Qatar, a small Middle-Eastern oil rich nation.
In 2016, she’ll make history again as the country’s first two-time female Olympian after the Qatari Olympic Committee announced that she would be a part of the country’s 36-athlete delegation to Rio.
Women’s sports have been late to develop in this country that was a part of the British Empire until 1971. The country didn’t hold its first women’s Athletics (track & field) championships until 1998, which doubled as one of the first major sporting events in Qatar that allowed female spectators. In 2000, a women’s sports committee was established, and was affiliated with the Qatar Olympic Committee in 2001.
The breakthrough came in 2012, when the country sent 4 women to the Olympic Games, including the appointment of shooter Bahiya Al-Hamad as the country’s flag-bearer.
“I did basketball, netball, ballet and swimming obviously. My favourite one was swimming and I felt the most connection with that sport. Everything else felt ok but it didn’t feel right. But when I started swimming I felt this is for me.”
Now 22, Arkaji has finished her university degree and turned to training full-time in the Hamad Aquatic Centre that hosts Qatar’s annual stop on the FINA World Cup Series. She says that her experience will help her.
“My experience in London has helped. I’ve gone to the first Olympics, seen what it’s like. I have an idea of what the atmosphere will be like in Rio. My goals for the Olympics Games are to be the best I can be and definitely to get a personal best time. With all the training I’ve done I hope that I’ll be able to improve my times and for everyone to be happy,” Arakji said.
She also sees herself as a role model for young female Qatar athletes.
“I definitely hope to inspire more young athletes to take up sport, especially women. I encourage all the girls out there to not be afraid and take risks. It doesn’t have to be sports. Whether it’s education or sports or other things,” Arakji said, adding “I think they should be confident and do what they love.”
She’ll swim the 200 free and 100 fly in Rio. She swam those same events at last year’s World Championships with a 2:30.40 in the 200 free and a 1:17.30 in the 100 fly. In London, she raced in the 50 free and finished 58th in 30.89.
Her father is the former goalkeeper of the National Qatari football team.