Zahra Nemati is a top role model for many in her home soil and globally. As a staunch advocate, Zahra paved the way towards success for millions of women and broke the stereotypes associated with impairment during the recent years.

After the tragic car crash she had, Zahra was left with a spinal injury which caused her to come into a standstill in her sporting career. However, it didn’t take her much to make her Paralympic debut and channeled her athletic passion to Para archery in 2007. 

In 2012, Nemati celebrated her first Paralympic appearance with a historic gold medal and became the first ever Iranian woman to win either an Olympic and Paralympic gold medal.

At the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Zahra Nemati made history by gracing both Olympic and Paralympic Games as the only Iranian woman and took home her second gold.

Known for her advocacy on disability and women’s rights, in 2017, Zahra participated at the UN Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities in 2017 and also became the first UN SDG Ambassador of Global Understanding to raise awareness regarding disability and sustainable goals.

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics brought Zahra everything she dreamed of. She first claimed her third Paralympic title in women's individual recurve. Then, she was voted the International Paralympic Committee’s athletes’ council member to represent world’s Paralympians for the next three years up until Paris 2024.

Finally, at the 54th congress of World Archery, Zahra Nemati along with France's Dominique Ohlmann and Canada's Nancy Littke were voted the new members of Para Archery Committee of World Archery.

 

Date of Birth: 1985-04-30

Type of Impairment: Spinal Cord Injury

Education: Sports Science 

Paralympic appearances and medals:

• Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games – Gold medal (individual recurve)

• Rio 2016 Paralympic Games – Gold medal (individual recurve)

• Rio 2016 Paralympic Games – Silver medal (Mixed recurve)

• London 2012 Paralympic Games – Gold medal (individual recurve)

• London 2012 Paralympic Games – Bronze medal (Team recurve)