Image via Mariam Shalan's Instagram account
In June, Saudi Arabia made headlines at the 2018 World Cup, when an all-female Saudi delegation led the national team, the Green Falcons, into the game against Russia. The delegation comprised six Saudi girls, between ages 13 and 17, who were chosen to participate in the games under Coca-Cola's FlagBearers Program. One of the girls chosen was Mariam Shalan, the youngest Saudi Arabian to take up professional free diving, a sport or activity that entails diving deep underwater for extended periods of time without the use of breathing apparatus such as scuba gear.
At only 17 years of age, Shalan is the Freediving Egyptian National Record Holder CWT 50m (bi-fins), as well as a two times national record holder, making her an inspiration not only to girls in Saudi Arabia but to everyone in the Kingdom, a representation of the direction that Saudi Arabia is aiming to take as it works on economic and social reforms that focus on the contribution and inclusiveness of its women.
According to Gulf News, the young diver can hold her breath for an impressive four minutes and 30 seconds and dive up to 43 meters into the sea. Speaking to the news site, the 17-year-old diver said, “It is very therapeutic for me to dive and be surrounded by water with just a rope in front of me. It is so silent and peaceful down there […] Even though it’s difficult, it can be beautiful and relaxing at the same time.”
Her rise to becoming an icon in Saudi Arabia started about eight years ago, when Shalan’s mother decided to pursue a sport that could be done together as a family. Today, the Shalan family goes diving together nearly every weekend in the Red Sea.
“At first it was random but then I found out that diving could make a young person build skills like courage, responsibility, cooperation, communication, empathy, and knowledge and that’s when I encouraged my children to dive,” said Shalan’s mother, who is now a certified scuba diver instructor. “When we went to our first scuba diving course, we fell in love with the sea and the beauty underneath it. It was magical. Diving became part of our lifestyle since then.”
