Listen up Vancouver - Pakistani Sprinter Naseem Hameed is Taking Flight

By Sumayyah Meehan

February 25, 2010

Move over Apolo. Somebody else is getting ready to take center stage when it comes to athleticism based on awe-inspiring footwork and mind-numbing speed. Meet Pakistani sprinter Naseem Hameed, who is fast-becoming (pun most definitely intended) a force to be reckoned with on the international sprinting scene.

The humble runner has made a name for herself by winning the gold medal at last month’s South Asian Games in the 100-meter category. Hameed managed to break the world record to boot clocking in at a blurring 11.81 seconds. She has been crowned the fastest woman in Southeast Asia and is the first female gold medalist in the entire history of Pakistan.

Despite the fact that she already had several medals and trophies at home from her early years competing, the recent gold medal win was the crowing jewel in this sprinter’s crown. In a recent interview, Hameed credited her family for her stellar work ethic, particularly her father (a laborer) and her mother (who makes envelopes at home): “I have no words to be thankful to Allah. It is just because of His Grace and the prayers of my parents, that I have achieved this all.”

Female athleticism is not always welcome in the Islamic world as many regions deem sports to be for men only. Hameed even revealed that her relatives put a lot of pressure on her father to force her into quitting. Luckily he didn’t, and now the President of Pakistan himself, Asif Zardari, threw the family a lavish banquet in Hameed’s honor. He also gifted them some cold hard cash to the tune of $12,000.

Several corporations and members of the local government have also announced that they will be showering Hameed with gifts such as a brand new house for her family and even more cash.The future looks bright for Hameed as she plans to continue her running career, no doubt with a bunch of deep-pocketed corporations paving her way. There’s even talk of a modeling career – her running outfit while winning the gold medal was a full length traditional dress in the colors of the Pakistani flag.

For now though, Hameed seems to be staying true to the “mo’ money, mo’ problems” mantra. Her main priority is to fulfill her own lifelong dream to attend the Hajj pilgrimage with her parents.

Still, with the Winter Olympics in Vancouver underway, and more and more Muslims participating, we hope that we’ll one day see Naseem on this platform, sprinting in the Summer Olympics. Still we also love her the way she is, and hope that despite all the massive media attention, this dashing diva’s feet remain firmly on the ground – except when she’s sprinting, of course.