Shirin Nobahari is called the only female bodybuilder in Iran.
Female bodybuilding is not officially recognized as a sport by national Sports Ministry, and this has caused her many professional problems. Shirin graduated from an architectural university, but has been a lifelong lifter. She told Sputnik News:
“I have loved sport since childhood, especially everything that has to do with a beautiful sporty body. That’s why I took the first step toward my dream: as a 14 year-old girl I came to the gym for the first time. I never knew what kind of future awaited me. I just enjoyed every single day and hour I spent training. Even during hard times, I made myself go to work out. I worked more and more, day after day. Sport helped me greatly to get over hardships.”
Shirin never had a coach, but she says her father’s martial arts background provided her with an education in physical endeavors. She watched videos and relentlessly studied bodybuilding magazines to learn proper training and nutrition. Now she makes a good living as a coach, and pursues the profession with pride.
“I have been recognized as the only female bodybuilder in Iran. It has been my boldest and most audacious deed in life, as well as the most difficult and dangerous adventure. I have faced hordes of problems and I have been resolving them on my own. I must admit that I had to pay a hefty price for them on more than one occasion,” the sportswoman said.
Shirin’s Instagram profile has been blocked for several months.
“Love is the foundation of my success. I have been paid good money for my persistence and energy; I have always brought up successful students, in terms of sport as well as science and coaching. One can compare it to two scale pans. If they are well balanced, then I get stronger in achieving my goals. This is virtually why they became the key ‘underpinnings’ in my work.”
Shirin has an interesting perspective on what bodybuilding needs to grow in the Middle East. She says they have the passion and physiques, just not the promotion.
“I would start with more efficient management in the sphere. I would create opportunities for motivated youths to grow and thrive, I would find talented people interested in the sport’s development and I would come up with instruments and opportunities to popularize it.”
She has considered emigrating to freely pursue her dream.
“I really, really want to make it till the end. But it is impossible to fulfill it here. Iranian women are perfectly persistent and daring. And I, being an Iranian woman, will continue my way. However, the scope of my work presumably lies somewhere else.”
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