One Athlete, Three Sporting Journeys

Kariman Abuljadayel is a Saudi Olympian, multisport athlete, architect, and sports advocate whose journey has taken her from the Olympic track to rowing and cross-country skiing.

Kariman Abuljadayel’s sporting journey has never followed a single path. From making history at the Olympic Games to setting a Guinness World Record in open-water rowing and taking on cross-country skiing, she has continued to explore new challenges while opening doors for Saudi women in sport.

Her breakthrough came in 2016, when she represented Saudi Arabia at the Rio Olympics. Competing in the women’s 100 metres, Kariman became the first Saudi woman to compete in the event at the Olympic Games. She finished seventh in her preliminary heat in 14.61 seconds, a performance that marked an important moment in the Kingdom’s sporting history. 

What made her achievement even more distinctive was that she was pursuing her athletic ambitions alongside her studies in architecture at Northeastern University in Boston. She trained with the university’s track and field team while working toward her academic qualifications, balancing the demands of elite sport with her education. 

After Rio, Kariman’s sporting journey took a new direction. She transitioned from sprinting to rowing, a discipline that better suited her physical characteristics and offered a new competitive challenge. During her time in Boston, she was introduced to rowing and became involved with Community Rowing, Inc. Her experience eventually contributed to her involvement in the development of rowing in Saudi Arabia. 

The transition proved to be more than a change of sport. It became another chapter in her pioneering career. In 2023, Kariman achieved one of her most remarkable sporting milestones when she rowed 10 kilometres in open water in 57 minutes and 24 seconds in Jeddah. Guinness World Records officially recognized the performance as the fastest time to row 10 kilometres in open water. 

The record attempt took place in the Red Sea during the intense August heat. High humidity, extreme temperatures, and a strong current made the challenge even more demanding. Despite reaching a point where she wanted to stop, Kariman continued and completed the attempt. Her achievement became another example of the resilience that has defined her sporting career. 

But Kariman was not finished exploring new disciplines.

In 2025, she entered the world of cross-country skiing and signed with Al-Nassr, becoming the club’s first cross-country skier. The move also marked a historic step for the Saudi sports landscape, with Al-Nassr becoming the first Saudi sports club to officially add a winter sport to its roster. 

Training for a winter sport in Riyadh presents its own challenges, but Kariman has approached them with the same mindset that has guided her throughout her career. She has used roller skiing as part of her preparation, demonstrating that a lack of snow does not have to prevent athletes in Saudi Arabia from pursuing winter sports. 

Her achievements extend beyond athletics. Kariman holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from Northeastern University, reflecting a career that combines sport, education, design, and leadership. Her ability to move between disciplines has become one of the defining features of her story. 

For Kariman, sport is not simply about competition. It is also about challenging assumptions, embracing discomfort, and showing what can become possible when new paths are explored.

From the Olympic track to the open waters and now the ski trails, her journey continues to expand the possibilities for Saudi women in sport.

HerStory celebrates Kariman Abuljadayel for breaking new ground across multiple sports, challenging boundaries, and inspiring a new generation of Saudi women to pursue ambitious goals both on and beyond the field.