Zahra Nemati is a unique person in many ways. The first Iranian woman who won a gold medal at either the Olympic or Paralympic Games, she owns 5 gold, 4 silver and 7 bronze Paralympic medals. She set a number of records, including the best shooting accuracy at the Paralympic Games.





Now, she is to�become the first flag bearer in�the history for�both the Olympic and Paralympic Iranian teams at�the opening of�Rio 2016.

In 2004, Zahra was injured in�car accident, which left her with�spinal injuries and paralysis of�both legs.
"After that tragedy, I tried not to�lose heart and continued to�live for�my family," she said. "Moreover, I did not leave sports. But it cost me a tremendous effort. My family was very worried about�me, seeing how I suffered. It took two years to�look for�something that could put me on�my feet. I've tried everything, but�in the end, came to�terms with�my new conditions of�life."


"After my friends' recommendation and family approval I decided to�have a go at�archery. It was a conscious and deliberate decision. After all, this is the rare case when a disabled person can compete on�equal terms with�a healthy one. It was a powerful incentive," Zahra continued. After four and a half years of�hard training, she was able to�enjoy the Paralympics gold medal on�her chest.


After winning the Paralympic Games in�London, Nemati said: "I wanted to�show the Iranian youth, especially girls, that the Iranian women are no worse than�others, and we may even win the Paralympic and receive medals. I wanted to�break the stereotype and I'm very glad that I did it."


She overcame hundreds of�barriers and limitations and proved that the goal may be achieved even when physically handicapped and wearing aheadscarf, which some consider a limitation.


At the end of�the London Paralympics, Zahra was nominated for�an award by�the international organization SportAccord for�sporting merit and socially meaningful activities. She was named the world's top athlete of�2012.
"I think, I have shown that there is no place for�despair in�women's sports, and that the Iranian woman should never lose faith in�herself, but�rather double-down to�achieve their goals," Zahra said.


Soon after�the Paralympics in�London, Zahra got married to�Roham Shahabi, a parasportsman, also competing for�Iran in�the category of�classic archery. They were engaged in�the Olympic village circled by�their fellow athletes.

Zahra met Roham at�the association for�individuals with�spinal disabilities, where they both discovered archery and were working out�side by�side for�six years. Before his disability, Roham was an electrician. In 2001, while at�work, his was hit by�a falling pole�� as�a result his spinal cord was badly damaged.
"For all the time that we've know each other, we made sure that any problems are easier to�be solved together. As regards archery, I am very lucky because other archers do not have an opportunity to�train with�their husbands. Roham is the world champion. This fact on�its own is an incentive to�improve my skills," Zahra went on.


Zahra Nemati does not consider her mission completed after�London's Paralympics victory. "Now I dream of�the Paralympic Games in�Brazil. And I also hope that I will be able to�take part in�the Olympic Games with�the management's support." In addition, she is considering studying at�the faculty of�physical culture.


Nemati fights for�the inclusion of�disabled people into�society as�much as�possible. She believes that in�addition to�the physical problems they face, there are plenty of�social difficulties.
"Until a man actually actually feels the difficulties himself, he cannot understand what problems people with�disabilities have to�face. Nothing in�the world should force a person to�go into�the shadows and change the usual course of�his life," Zahra concluded.


By Sputnik