April 29, 2008
Disabled Iraqi Weightlifter Is First Female To Qualify For Paralympics
A "crowded" weightlifting gym in Baghdad? Sweet!
Iraq’s Zekra Zaki believes she can win medal in Beijing Paralympic Games. When Iraq's Paralympic medal hope Zekra Zaki is furiously pumping iron at a crowded Baghdad gym[emphasis mine] she forgets that she has no legs. "I don't feel disabled at all," the long-haired athlete said after doing repetitive bench presses in training for the Beijing Paralympic Games later this year.Competing in the 56 kilogrammes (123 pounds) category, she believes she can win a medal in China. "If I win a medal I will dedicate it to my father's spirit and to my country," said Zaki, 27, who lost her legs in a car accident at the age of two.[Defeatest you are out of luck on this one..ed]
"A victory will justify all the difficulties I have had to face to get this far," added the soft-spoken but powerfully built woman, perspiring from the exertion.
Zaki is Iraq's first disabled female athlete to qualify for the Paralympics[emphasis mine] which will be staged in September after the Beijing Olympic Games.
Six male weightlifters and a volleyball team will also be in Beijing to represent Iraq at the Paralympics.
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God forbid if a good story comes out of Iraq.
I wish Zekra Zaki the best of luck in her competition. She is a survivor and one tough lady!
