Amidst current political tension in many parts of the world including Afghanistan and Ukraine, sports plays an important role in giving the people a voice, and an opportunity to represent their country on a platform that is recognized globally. Valerie Tarazi, a Palestinian-American swimmer, is one such athlete who will be representing her people at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Tarazi grew up in America but is deeply attached to her roots and her home country.
Who Is Valerie Tarazi?
Valerie has been a sportsperson her entire life and has played hockey, baseball, and tennis. This, in addition to swimming of course, which she fell in love with at 3 years old and has been participating in ever since. She grew up in Illinois and has completed her bachelor's and master's degrees from Auburn University, Alabama. She studied for a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Business Administration and minors in French and Literature, while her master's was a course in supply chain management.
Tarazi was involved significantly in college sports, specifically representing her college team, ''Auburn Tigers'', which resulted in her receiving the USA Swimming Scholastic All-American in 2018. She has also received several academic honours.
Valerie is a six-time Arab Swimming Champion as of 2023 and was issued Palestine's National Medal of Honour and Freedom by the Palestinian Authority. This honour is given to individuals outside Palestine who are advocating for peace within the country. She has also been a member of the Palestinian National Swim Team since last year.
Valerie Tarazi's Journey To Olympics
Tarazi's Olympic journey began in 2016 when she was just 16 years old. She attempted to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics for the Team USA swim team. She considers qualifying for these Olympic Trials one of her greatest ''accomplishments, struggles, and failures all in one,'' in her own words.
Now, in 2024, Valerie will be representing her home country, Palestine, at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. In a post, she wrote, ''I'm forever grateful for this opportunity to go back to my roots and represent Palestine in Paris. This achievement is even more momentous after she advocated for the right to play sports with the International Olympic Committee as well as the secretary generals of FIFA and EUFA.
As A Palestinian
Tarazi has used her platform to advocate consistently for peace in Palestine. In an interview with Feminist, she talked about her connection to the country. She said that her grandfather was forced to leave his home, which was right outside Rafah, after which he came to the United States.
Tarazi also talked about using the Olympics and sports in general as a way to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine, and how it creates a greater purpose and identity.
''We stand with the flag to represent the millions of Palestinians around the world who have been silenced, who have been censored, who don't have a voice. That is our goal, which is to stand for those people who can't.''
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