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Iran's kayakers take crash course in America
Teens won't quit
The girls were confident enough to compete in the USA Canoe/Kayak National Championships on Saturday at the ASCI facility high atop the Wisp ski resort.
Despite a large crowd and dozens of photographers and video crews, the Iranian girls showed that although they may not have been as experienced as their fellow competitors, they were just as tough.
"The game plan was to miss a few of the more difficult gates," Wiegand says, "but their competitive spirit took over and they tried everything."
With their determined game faces and white-green-and-red Iranian Junior Kayaking Team helmets, the girls won over the crowd. When they missed slalom gates, they paddled back and fought the hard currents until they made a successful pass as the spectators roared their approval.
The Iranian girls finished at the bottom of the standings but stood proud at the shoreline knowing they had met a challenge after only six weeks of serious whitewater training.
They face more rigorous practice in the next few months as they prepare for a series of competitions, including a venue test event near Beijing, that could lead to a spot in the 2008 Summer Games.
The odds are in their favor: Paddling is not a popular sport for women in Asia and the Middle East. But the world federation that governs the sport is under pressure from the International Olympic Committee to improve on its 20% female participation level.
For Ashraf, the bigger goal is at the heart of the Olympic movement: global understanding.
"We have made so many friends here," she says with her large brown eyes glistening. "Before we came, people told us to be careful because it would be dangerous for Iranians in America. It has been the opposite. People have been so warm to us."
She has spent some time explaining her country to geographically challenged Americans, many of whom have expressed surprise when they learn there are many mountains and rivers in Iran.
"They think it is a big desert," she says with a laugh.
For the girls, shopping in America has been a highlight.
"We have been able to buy lightweight clothing for paddling," says Kalantar. "The gear we brought was heavy (neoprene) and only in black."
Wiegand says the clothing allows them to meet their religious requirements that they cover their head, arms and legs in public, "but now they can do it with some real girly shades of pink."
Language of sport
Wiegand and Ashraf recently received a funding commitment to expand female kayak training into other Muslim nations.
"There were plenty of doubters and naysayers when we started this program," Wiegand says. "But they were able to learn quickly. When one girl would master a skill, the others would soon follow, leapfrogging through the skills."
When she returns to Tehran, Ashraf will give a report on her trip to Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"We have learned from this experience that people are the same all over the world," Ashraf says. "We have witnessed kindness everywhere.
"Sport can help humanity. It is a language that is common for all people, a language to connect humanity."
Then, pointing to her wet, tired and happy charges standing proudly with their paddles held aloft, she said, "Look at these girls and you will see what I want to say. It doesn't matter that we have different politics, different beliefs. Through sport, we can make everything pure."
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