A female Iranian swimmer has said that her country”s sports ministry is not recognizing the 20 kilometers which she claimed that she swam in the Caspian Sea in June because of her ”feminine figure”.
According to the New York Daily News, 32 year-old Elham Asghari, who wears a swimsuit that adheres to strict Islamic code and weighs an extra 13 pounds, is demanding credit for what she calls a personal record-breaking swim. Even though Asghari was garbed in a complete body-covering gear, she said that Iran”s sports ministry refuses to accept her accomplishment as the Swimming Federation claimed that her swimsuit was illegal because the ”feminine characteristics” of her body were visible as she came out of water.
Asghari also said that she has seven witnesses who can attest to her swim and that no men were even present during her acquatic endeavour. Following the refusal, Asghari had reportedly put a video online pleading for support for her plight, with Change.org sponsoring a petition asking the International Swimming Federation to pressure Iran to recognize Asghari”s claim that she swam 20 kilometers in a ”nine-hour ordeal” in June. The petition, which now has more than 147,000 signatures, said that Asghari deserves to be recognized for her accomplishments as she continues to face obstacles and challenges that most athletes would never have to deal with on a daily basis.
In the video uploaded last month, Asghari says Iran”s Swimming Federation had initially agreed to compromise to giving her credit for 18 kilometers instead of the full 20, adding that she hoped that the new regime under President Hassan Rouhani will be more understanding to her plight. Women are allowed to swim in Iran but only in segregated waters, and are largely barred from international competition such as the Olympics, the report added. (ANI)
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