Graphic: How did you start your career in sports?
Sarah Attar: I have always been involved in sports since I was really little. I played soccer growing up all my life, and then I got involved in volleyball. One of my friends randomly asked me to do track our sophomore year in high school, so I went out for the team. I was pretty decent so I figured I’d stick with it. And then the coach asked me to do cross-country. That’s how I switched from doing soccer and volleyball to doing cross-country and track. I fell in love with running. It just stuck. It’s just a wonderful way to clear my mind and explore everything around me.
G: How did you come to the Olympics?
SA: It was much more spontaneous then most peoples’ journey to the Olympics. Somehow my name got in, and the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee contacted me in February to ask about my times and my actual level. I found out that I was going to the Olympics a month and a half before it began. Since I was not qualified to go, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) invited us. This was the first year Saudi Arabia allowed female athletes to go to the Olympics. The IOC invited us to participate in the games since we were not qualified [by Olympic standards].
G: How did your parents react to your decision to participate in the Olympics?
SA: They were really supportive the whole way and were really behind me in anything that I wanted to pursue. Since this was much bigger than anything I have encountered, they were obviously very behind me on it.
G: What were the obstacles on your way to the Olympics?
SA: I have suffered a few injuries in my running career. I think one of the main obstacles was the fact that I was trained to run a marathon, and they asked me to run the 800-meter. And mentally and physically that was really hard because they are such different races with such a different training. So going the 800-meter was the huge obstacle. In addition, I was not qualified to go.
G: How did your regular day in the Olympic Village look like?
SA: I would wake up and go on the warm-up track and do my workouts. Then we would go to the dining hall in the Village. That was really exciting to be around all of the athletes, and they had food from every country to please everyone there. That was really cool! Everyone was really nice, and it was the least judgmental group of people I have been around. It was just really cool group of people to be with. After the dining hall, for the rest of the day we walked around the village or sometimes I got to explore London or go home and watch the games.
G: What was the reaction of people in Saudi Arabia to your participation in the Olympics?
SA: There is definitely some controversy in the country. But I have had so much support, and it is important to focus on that and that there are people inspired and behind me on this. It was really encouraging to see so many people supporting me regardless of the political side.
G: How do you think your participation in the Olympic games changed the perception of female athletes in Saudi Arabia?
SA: I think this is a huge step forward for woman in Saudi Arabia. It is such a great thing that we are finally allowed to compete. Just the fact that we are allowed to go shows that there is progress being made. All women are hopefully inspired and hopefully will be more involved in sports.
G: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
SA: I am studying art right now so I definitely see myself doing something with that at some point in my life. I see myself still running, definitely, maybe in the next two Olympics (laughs), you never know. I would like to be doing something that can make a difference to people, inspiring people and encouraging people to really live what they want to do. You can live your dreams; it is possible to make things happen. I just want to spread that and spread joy, love and still be doing what I want all at the same time.
G: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
SA: I enjoy taking pictures. I enjoy photography. I love hiking. I work in Campus Recreation as a team leader, and we go hiking and on camping trips. I absolutely love that just being in nature. I also really enjoy baking. I am obsessed with baking. I have been told that my banana bread is pretty good. It is one of my favorite things to eat so it is a win-win situation there.
G: What inspires you the most in life?
SA: A big inspiration for me in life is just looking around, exploring the world and seeing how beautiful everything is. And just having people who support me because those relationships are important to me.