She was coming last, 150 metres from the finish line and almost 44 seconds behind the winner.  It was only appropriate that she trail the field.

But the crowd's focus was set on Sarah Attar in the women's 800m heat, who was living out a historic moment that had nothing to do with gold, silver or bronze.


As US runner Alice Schmidt told AP: "She carried the weight of Saudi Arabia's women on her shoulders."


Attar became the first female track and field athlete to represent Saudi Arabia at an Olympics in London on Wednesday, local time.

Advertisement The 19-year-old, who wore a white head cover, a long-sleeved green top and black leggings and sported luminous green running spikes, received a generous ovation and a loud cheer from a capacity crowd at the Olympic stadium as she trailed in last of the eight runners.

"This is such a huge honour and an amazing experience, just to be representing the women. I know that this can make a huge difference,’’ she said.


"It was such a unique opportunity [to represent Saudi Arabia], they invited me and welcomed me and to make that first step for women is just the most amazing feeling ever."

"For women in Saudi Arabia, I think this can really spark something to get more involved in sports, to become more athletic. Maybe in the next Olympics, we can have a very strong team to come.’’

Attar, who clocked two minutes 44.95 seconds - over 43 seconds behind heat winner Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei of Kenya - was the second Saudi woman to compete at the Games following judoka Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shaherkani.


Attar runs at Pepperdine University near Los Angeles and usually trains as a long-distance runner.

"To see how the crowd reacted to her when she was running was very touching and very exciting," Attar's father, Amer, told AP.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had extended a special invitation to Shaherkani and Attar after it pressed Saudi Arabia to end its ban on female participation.

Some conservative Saudis had criticised their countrywomen's participation in London after Saudi Arabia broke with its practice of sending male-only teams to the world's biggest sporting event.  Allowing women to compete was a significant step forward for women in a country that still disallows sports in schools for girls.

The female competitors marched behind the men at the opening ceremony.

AP reported many people in Saudi Arabia did not consider Attar to be truly Saudi because she was born in California. Her mother is American and her father is Saudi and she has spent little time in Saudi Arabia.

But the editor-in-chief of a Saudi-based online sports newspaper shesport.com, Ahmed al-Marzooqi, said that didn't take away from the significance of the moment.

"I think her run will support our cause here," he said told the news agency.

"They showed to all people and religious authority in Saudi that women in sports do not clash with Islamic tradition and Saudi society."

Any of us could finish dead last in an olympic event.

It's nothing to cheer about.

Sir Steve Redgrave has been reprimanded by rowing's governing body Fisa (Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron) following his comments suggesting Nigerien rower Hamadou Djibo Issaka – who finished 100 seconds behind the winner – should not have been given a place when there were "better scullers from different countries who are not allowed to compete".