Former Iraqi athlete overcomes life threatening challenges - in pictures

Former Iraqi athlete Rasha Refaat offers free cycling classes to young Iraqi women in a bid to develop women’s sports in Iraq

Former Iraqi athlete Rasha Refaat is offering free cycling classes to young women in a bid to develop women’s sports in her homeland. All photos: Reuters

'It is a hobby,' she said. 'I watched several cycling championships ... and trained. I want to be a champion in this sport.'

'We try to inspire girls to participate in internal and external championships without shame and without fear. We must break that barrier in front of girls, so that they can compete internationally.'

'The goal is to develop women's sports in Iraq ... we have talent and champions who enable us to develop women's sports, but there is no support.'

Having survived serious injury in regional competition, death threats from extremists and the killing of her coach, Refaat was initially desperate to end to her professional cycling career.

But she realised these experiences could be a source of strength. ‘I realised that life must continue after the death of my coach,’ the ex-Iraqi national cycling team member said.

Refaat opened a sports club in Baghdad offering free cycling training to young girls, whom she hopes to help build a career in sport.

The National