By Heather Long Vandevoorde, Ph.D. | @hvdvoode
Looking into the eyes of mother and daughter, Roquiya Cochran and Zahra Lari, you see the same competitive resolve. Zahra is the UAE’s own figure skating Olympic hopeful, while Roquiya is both her mentor, and also figure skating manager for the UAE Ice Sport Federation. Tempo caught up with them to talk about the sport and their support of women in sport.
Tempo: Roquiya, where did your interest in sports come from?
Roquiya: I grew up in Sylva, North Carolina, a small town in the southern United States. Sports were very popular there. I played basketball, volleyball and was a cheerleader. I also played a little bit of American football. Yes, I was a woman playing a men’s sport!
Tempo: How did you end up in Abu Dhabi?
Roquiya: I moved here 26 years ago when met and married Fadhel Lari – the best decision I ever made! I became a UAE national five years later.
Tempo: How are you promoting women in sport?
Roquiya: Personally, through the UAE Ice Sport Federation, I am trying to raise the profile of figure skating, which has a lot of female participation in the country. I want to encourage more girls to join the sport. And then Zahra and I as a team are proud to work with her sponsor, the Sheika Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy. Sheika Fatima Bint Mubarak, the Mother of our Nation, believes that all roads should be cleared for women to participate in sport. Together, we want to tear down the barriers for young girls, covered and uncovered alike, to participate and excel in sport.
Tempo: To what extent do you push Zahra to excel?
Roquiya: Not at all. From an early age it was apparent she had potential as well as the internal drive to do well. While her friends were at the mall shopping, she chose to stay at home, shaking the house as she practiced her jumps. I never forced her. All I have done is support her in any way I can so she can follow her passion. I have been with her through countless hours of training, falls, injuries and especially when she was faced with people criticizing her for dreaming big. Her father is also extremely supportive.
Tempo: What is it like to be the mother of an Olympic hopeful?
Roquiya: One word: BUSY. I am managing her life in order to protect her and leave her free to train and study. We travel to competitions in Europe several times per year. Here at home, she is in high demand for interviews, speaking events and documentaries. Add to that the training she does on and off ice daily and her pursuit of a university degree, and you have two tired ladies! But we take our work seriously. As the first-ever covered competitor on the world stage of figure skating, we realize how important Zahra’s role is as an ambassador to the sport as well as to our religion and culture. Whether at home or abroad, she is in the spotlight and tries to be a good example for those that will follow her. We never take it lightly.
Tempo: How do you have time for anything else?
Roquiya: I make time. Right now I am heading the organizing committee for Abu Dhabi’s first-ever International Skating Union (ISU, the governing body for the Olympics) competition. The FBMA Trophy will take place at the ice rink at Zayed Sports City, April 3 and 4. Skaters from more than ten countries, including five Emirati skaters, will participate in this top-level competition. Admission is free for the public to come watch. The skaters here will be contenders for Olympic competitions, whether in 2018 or the 2022 games. It is an honour for Abu Dhabi to be a host city and we plan to make it an annual event.
Tempo: Do you have other children?
Roquiya: Zahra is my middle child. I have an older son, Ahmed, a newlywed who’s just about to leave for his national service, and a younger son, Ali, who is in the middle of his national service. The national service has matured Ali and enhanced his self-discipline. I’m very proud of my boys and their dedication to serve the country.
