29 Mar 2024
Wednesday 22 March 2017 - 11:50
Story Code : 255240

Dream big: Meet the first female biker in the history of Irans motor sports

Sputnik - Behnaz Shafiei has become a pioneer in Iranian motor sport as she recently managed to make a 15-meter jump on a racetrack near Tehran. However, her jump is far greater than that because it was just a year ago that Iranian women were prohibited from riding motorbikes.





Behnaz, 27, could only dream abouttaking part ina motor sports competition and her dream was enough todrive her tosuccess. She has become a beacon ofhope forall women inIran who aim toexcel insports that are seen generally tobe male-dominated.

Although her love forriding started much earlier, it was four years ago that Behnaz bought her own motorbike. Earlier, she used toborrow her brother's and ride stealthily.


Women inIran are still prohibited fromriding bikes inpublic, butlast year authorities allowed women totrain inseparately designated bike tracks situated not far fromTehran.
If I dont ride my bike fortwo days, I feel sick. Just the very thought that I may lose it terrifies me, the racer told Sputnik Persian.


Behnaz has been riding forthe past15 years and trains six days a week. She is one ofonly six female racers who have gained access toamateur tracks inIran.

So far, two female competitions have taken place inIran, one ofwhich was won byBehnaz.

There was also an organized master class, which was attended by50 women. The event was attended bywomen fromall overthe province, including a 60-year-old who attended the lesson withher 40-year-old daughter.

Behnazs love forriding started when she was 15-years-old. For the first time inher life she saw a woman ona motorcycle ina small village nearZanjan.
I was very surprised and asked if women could ride a motorcycle. She showed me how it's done and I really enjoyed it, the racer recalled.


Over time her passion formotorbikes only intensified and she decided todevote herself entirely tothe motorsport. Behnaz was resolute inher ambition and she began togo tothe Ministry ofSports untilshe received permission totrain legally.

At this moment intime, women inIran are rapidly paving their way inkarate, light athletics and volleyball. Behnaz hopes that the next step forher and women likeher will be toobtain permission toride motorbikes aroundthe city.


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