Sarah attar biography

The 2016 Rio Olympics

When we think of the Olympics, we imagine athletes pursuing greatness with each hurdle, sprint, marathon and toss of a ball.

She has spoken at global forums, mentored young athletes, and remained a vocal proponent of equal opportunities for Saudi women. If this philosophy tugs at your heartstrings, let SEEMA illuminate your life’s path.

Tags:#Biographies, #Sarah Attar

middle-distance runner

Sarah Attar , is a track and field athlete who competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics as one of the first female Olympians representing Saudi Arabia.

Education

She graduated from Escondido High School in 2010, having competed for the school in cross country running.

Career

She has Saudi Arabian and American dual nationality and is currently a student at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles County, California. Attar competed in Heat 6 of the women"s 800m qualifying heats on August 8, 2012, where she finished last, with a time of 2:44.95.

Despite finishing more than half a minute slower than her nearest competitor, hundreds of spectators stood and applauded Attar as she crossed the finish line.

Olympic television coverage of her finish.

Achievements

• As of 2012 she attends Pepperdine University, where she is majoring in art, having won the Rex Hamilton Memorial Art Scholarship.

By The Arabian Leaders
Published on: 2-07-2025

Sarah Attar: Pioneering Saudi Arabia’s Women’s Sports Revolution

RIYADH — In the story of Saudi Arabia’s modern sports transformation, one name stands out as a symbol of courage, change, and progress: Sarah Attar.

Her participation sent a powerful message: Saudi women athletes weren’t just making symbolic appearances—they were here to stay, train, and compete at the world’s highest level.

A Voice for Empowerment and Representation

Beyond her own races, Sarah Attar continues to advocate for female participation in sports.

Sarah Attar was one of them. Attar is sponsored by Oiselle, a running apparel company focused on promoting and supporting female athletes, as of April 16, 2015, when she announced the news via a post on the company"s blog.

Oiselle also announced the news on its Twitter accountant 2012 Olympic Games

Attar was one of two athletes from her University to be selected to compete at the Olympics, along with Roxanne Barker, who is on the South African team

During the Opening Ceremonies" Parade of Nations, Attar and Shaherkani, the only two females in the Saudi Arabian delegation, were forced to walk behind their male teammates, unlike delegations from other Islamic nations.

Attar competed in the women"s 800 metres and took up the automatic qualification spot for a track and field athlete.

Her personal best at that distance is 2:40, having competed at this distance during high school but not since she has attended college. She dreamed of competing in the Olympics, despite the restrictive laws of sharia law in Saudi Arabia that prohibited women from participating in such events.

Breaking Barriers

In order to avoid being banned from the Olympics, Saudi Arabia was pressured by the IOC to allow women to compete under certain restrictions.

Stepping onto the Olympic track in a modest uniform and hijab, she ran the 800 meters, finishing last in her heat but winning the hearts of millions worldwide.

The crowd’s standing ovation wasn’t for her time on the clock—it was for what her presence represented: progress, visibility, and hope for Saudi women.

Catalyst for Change in Saudi Women’s Sports

Before Attar’s historic run, opportunities for Saudi women in sports were extremely limited.

As one of the first Saudi women to ever compete at the Olympic Games, Attar broke barriers that once seemed insurmountable, inspiring millions and paving the way for generations of Saudi female athletes.

A Journey of Determination and Identity

Born in Escondido, California, in 1992, Sarah Attar grew up balancing two worlds—her father’s Saudi heritage and her mother’s American upbringing.

SEEMA is a hub for all things related to crushing one’s goals, creating new visions for the future and pushing past self-limiting boundaries. More importantly, Sarah uses her spare time to set goals for the distant horizon, crushing each workout and improving her skillset tenfold. Her Olympic appearance changed the narrative overnight.

Since then, Saudi Arabia has taken major steps:

• Introducing physical education for girls in private schools in 2013.
• Launching the first women’s sports department under the General Sports Authority in 2016.
• Sending a women’s team to the Asian Games in 2018.
• Establishing the first official Saudi Women’s Football League in 2020.

Sarah Attar’s symbolic run showed what was possible—and set the stage for reform.

A Second Olympic Milestone: 2016 Rio Games

Proving that her debut was no one-time event, Attar returned to the 2016 Rio Olympics, this time competing in the marathon.

Attar was named one of the first two women to compete for Saudi Arabia in their Olympic team at the 2012 Summer Olympics. The other woman representing Saudi Arabia is judoka Wojdan Shaherkani.

Prior to June 2012, the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee had banned female athletes from competing at the Olympics, but the International Olympic Committee had threatened to ban Saudi Arabia from the Games unless they allowed women to compete.

She was expected to wear outfits that comply with Islamic law.

Today, as Saudi Arabia invests in women’s sports programs, scholarships, and international competition, her story stands as a beacon of hope, progress, and unshakeable courage.

1. Sarah Attar: A Trailblazing Saudi Olympian
2. Athletics Career
3. Breaking Barriers
4. Historic Olympic Debut
5. Global Recognition
6. Compromise and Adaptation
7. Legacy

Sarah Attar: A Trailblazing Saudi Olympian

Sarah Attar was born in 1992 in Escondido, California, to an American mother, Judy, and a Saudi Arabian father, Amer.