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Para triathlete Shaikha Al Shaiba who tamed her inner beast when she took on the gruelling Spartan Race obstacle course earlier this month will be jetting off to Abu Dhabi this weekend to compete against some of the best runners, swimmers and cyclists from across the globe.
The 34-year-old Bahraini role model and public figure, who lost her arm as a child following complications after treatment to remove a growth and the discovery of bone cancer, will be participating in the renowned ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi at Yas Island alongside inspirational Paralympic triathlon heroes, including World and European Champion and Rio 2016 Paralympic Gold medallist Andy Lewis and Mohamed Lahna, the Bronze medallist at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
Abu Dhabi will be the first leg of the World Triathlon Series for the fourth consecutive year and will be staging a ‘Para Wave’ for para-triathletes such as during Saturday’s race.
Shaikha, a successful businesswoman who lives in Hamad Town, said: “I’m very excited that the World Triathlon has opened up for para triathletes for the very first time. “My aim is not only to compete but to encourage others to be proud of themselves.”
Shaikha will be competing in the sprint distance category swimming 750m, biking for 20km and then ending it with a 5km run.
The determined athlete, who was recently featured in GulfWeekly for her sporting prowess, has been training daily for the coming challenge. She completed her first Ironman 70.3 Middle East Championship Bahrain last November.
Shaikha recently shared her sporting story at the three-day International Women’s Conference 2018 at Bengaluru in India.
