Empowering Women: Emirati Triathlete Asma Al Janahi

HEALTH MEETS WITH ASMA AL JANAHI, EMIRATI TRIATHLETE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER INCREDIBLE JOURNEY AS THE FIRST EVER EMIRATI WOMAN TO EVER COMPLETE THE IRONMAN 70.3 FOUR TIMES AND MORE.

About Asma and her achievements

“I am a proud Emirati woman and I believe in creating a path for myself and for women around me. I am the first Emirati woman ever to finish the IRONMAN 70.3 four times and complete three IRONMAN Middle East races in a single season. Some of my IRONMAN accolades include being the first female UAE national and woman in the GCC to complete the races and coming first at the Abu Dhabi World Triathlon in 2019 amongst other accomplishments.”

Her mission for all women

“My mission is to inspire other women and next generations to get into sports and make it an integral part of their life. I believe that in order to enjoy life, we must achieve and inspire others to do better. For that we need to keep a healthy body and a healthy mind. My personal motto is: It’s not speed, its aptitude…and everything is possible if you believe.”

Experience in sports

“I have always been an active person. As a kid, it was a fun activity for me, I liked the playful competition and the power of sports to build camaraderie amongst your peers. I got really serious about sports about three years ago when I started participating in triathlons. This was when I learned to act and be a life, working on physical health and being active is a key benefit of doing sports. The joy of new friendships, the coffee chats and learning processes, are all important for our overall well-being as humans.”

committed athlete. I am still an amateur athlete, but I have insight into what it takes to be at the top. My motivations have changed, but I enjoy every bit of it.”

How she empowers other women

“The best way to empower is to lead by example and to be open to answering people’s questions. It’s encouraging to see someone you can relate to. I try to do things that I’m passionate about and that in return empowers people around me to follow their dreams. Taking part in activities that are sports related opens up conversations that were thought to be closed for Emirati women. For example, being part of ASICS FrontRunner helps me to transfer my message to my community and beyond thanks to being part of a group of global runners that share a passion for inspiring others. ASICS believes in the mantra of #SoundMindSoundBody, and this is something I believe in, too.”

Movement and wellbeing

“Movement and being active is a part of self-care, I believe. It helps me mentally and physically, where I can use my energy in the right place. It is an essential element that many people are missing these days. In order to achieve a better

Asma’s training routine/fitness regime

“I have everything planned in advance and a qualified coach overlooks the program for race preparation. Usually my day starts as early as 6am for the morning training session and then I head to work and do the evening session if I have one. It sounds hectic, but with time management everything is possible. Also, I don’t forget the recovery time, because it is important for the body, and for athletic performance, to rest as well as to train.”

Nutritional habits

“I don’t restrict myself from enjoying food. I just work on some healthier habits and give myself a treat after a big training block or a race. I usually take care of my health and energy through whole foods and avoid things like deep fried food and junk food, most of the time. But it all starts with creating habits.” H