Iranian woman turned to paddling after being forbidden from wearing swimsuit

London 2012 Olympics: Iranian woman turned to paddling after being forbidden from wearing swimsuit

An Iranian female canoeist has revealed how she turned to paddling because strict Islamic laws prevented her following her ambition to be an Olympic swimmer.

Arezou Hakimimoghaddam, from Tehran, competed in the women’s kayak 200 metres sprint at Eton Dorney on Friday, finishing seventh in her heat at the Olympics.

The 17 year-old spent six years training in women’s only pools in Iran but was prevented from competing internationally because of laws preventing her wearing a swimsuit.

“In Iran, swimming is only allowed for ladies on their own,” she said. “If swimming is in front of other ladies, there is not a problem. 

"We don’t have any representatives internationally in swimming and I wanted to go to another level.” She wore a hijab and full body wetsuit at Eton Dorney this week.(telegraph.co.uk)

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