Saudi swimmer Mariam Binladen’s amazing record-breaking journey

While the best of us struggle to balance a good gym routine with a demanding full-time job, Mariam Saleh Binladen is proof that nothing is impossible once you put your mind to it.

Although already quite well known in various sporting circles, the 32-year-old Saudi made headlines in the UAE this March by becoming the first ever swimmer to cross the Dubai Creek and Dubai Water Canal. The full-time dentist set a new record, swimming 24 kilometres in 9 hours and 10 minutes. 

And it’s all for a good cause. The sportswoman does gruelling swims as part of a mission to support and raise funds for Syrian refugees.

For instance, last June she became the first Saudi woman to cross the English Channel. In August, Mariam swam the base of the River Thames, becoming the first woman to complete a distance of 101 miles (163 km). Her story is covered in the soon-to-be-released documentary I Am Mariam Binladen. Here’s the trailer:

In this exclusive email interview, Mariam discusses her Dubai venture, making sport accessible to Arab women, and her goals for the rest of the year.

What made you choose the location, and why? 

The Dubai Creek and Dubai Water Canal swim is the fourth major swim that I took part in over the past two years. Just like the previous swims, the aim […] is to raise awareness and shed the spotlight on the plight of Syrian refugees. 

I always wanted to complete a swim somewhere in the Arab World, as I have not done any previously. In addition to that, my grandmother is Emirati, so I always had a soft spot for the UAE. That is why, in November, when I [learned] about the official opening of the Dubai Water Canal, the idea came to me, and my parents encouraged me. 

A couple of months later, I started discussions with the Dubai Sports Council and got their approval on the swim. The team at the Dubai Sports Council was very supportive.

What challenges, if any, did you have in setting this up? 

The main challenge in setting up this swim was the short time of preparation, which was one month only. 

On the swim itself, there were two main challenges: The warm water, as it was my first time to swim in waters of high temperatures. And second was the saltiness of the water, which I encountered also for the first time.

Run us through a typical day in your life. 

I am an early bird; I always wake up at 6:30am. On my training days, I start by eating three dates along with a protein shake for breakfast. I train three days a week and rest for four days. On the first training day, I do two hours of intense workout in the gym. On the second training day, I do one hour of intense workout in the gym with a concentration on the core area followed by two hours of sprint swimming. On the third training day, I perform long-distance swimming, ranging from three to six hours. 

As for my rest days, I focus on relaxation activities such as physiotherapy, reflexology, massages, etc. 

What’s your opinion on making sports, especially in a professional capacity, more accessible to hijabi women? 

I can only speak for myself, and I believe wearing a hijab shouldn’t stop anyone from doing sports. If you are dedicated, you will always find a way to do sports, and with hard work nothing is impossible. 

What's the next challenge for you? 

There are further swims that I intend to do in 2017 and other initiatives, all in support of raising awareness about the plight of Syrian refugees and helping in improving their lives. These will be announced in due course. I also want to motivate more and more women from the Arab World to take on sports and use their talents to achieve the unachievable, knowing that nothing is impossible.

[Images courtesy: Dr Mariam Binladen]