Shirin Gerami – Iranian Triathlete

Shirin Gerami is the very first female “Ironwoman” triathlete to compete in a hijab. In 2013, she raced in a championship in London while dressing the full Islamic dress. Then, in 2016, Gerami raced in the Ironman World Championships located in Kona, Hawaii.

Gerami was born in Iran but was raised in England, America, and the Middle East. She attended Lancing College and studied for “A-levels” then obtained a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics from Durham University.

At the age of 27-years-old, she has developed her own sportswear line to inspire other women from Iran to become more involved with sports. Gerami was named one of the 100 most inspiring and influential women in 2016 by BBC. She stated that it is not what you wear that defines you but what you can and can not do – clothing is just a piece of fabric.

The feminine name Shirin means “sweet” in Persian. The name is mostly used in Turkish, Indian, Iranian, and Arabic places and is an Old Persian name. It is literally derived from the word shirin that means “pleasant” or “charming”. The name has many different versions, which are used in many foreign languages, as well as, English.

The name became popular after it was given to a character in Turkish and Persian legend. It was given to the gorgeous wife of the Persian king Khosrau the second, who was in the ancient collection of stories called “One Thousand and One Nights” on the 390th night.