UAE athletes make history with medals at Special Olympics Winter Games

Two UAE athletes have made history by securing the Gulf country’s first-ever medals at the Special Olympics World Winter Games taking place in Turin, Italy.

Abdulla Al-Nuaimi won gold in snowboarding, while Meena Al-Mazrouei claimed bronze, marking a milestone for the UAE delegation at the games. The competition, which features over 1,500 athletes from 102 countries, runs until 15 March.

“We are incredibly proud of Abdulla Al-Nuaimi and Meena Al-Mazrouei’s outstanding performances,” Talal Al Hashemi, national director of Special Olympics UAE told The National. “These medals are a testament to their perseverance and the consistent support of our wise leadership for people of determination.”

They believed. They persevered. They made it happen! ⚡️#TeamUAE is officially on the podium at #Truin2025 as Abdullah Al Nuaimi shred his way to gold and Meena Al Mazrouei secured the bronze in snowboarding pic.twitter.com/1tJE8QrmDE

— Special Olympics UAE (@uaeso_) March 12, 2025

The UAE has sent 11 athletes with intellectual disabilities to compete in six disciplines: snowboarding, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, short-track speed skating and snowshoeing. This is the country’s first participation in the Winter Games.

Local clubs for people of determination have played a key role in preparing the athletes, who trained for over a year on ski slopes and ice rinks in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. They were selected from 70 hopefuls through six months of trials.

The UAE’s involvement aligns with its vision to develop winter sports for athletes with disabilities. Special Olympics UAE has pledged to continue expanding opportunities, ensuring access to elite training and coaching.

The official news agency WAM notes that the UAE delegation “is competing in the largest number of sports for a delegation from the region [and] is poised to make further progress in this inclusive global sporting event.”

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