Amal Baatia, a Saudi CrossFit and calisthenics coach in Jeddah, has been a role model, encouraging women in Saudi Arabia to engage in fitness activities and a healthier lifestyle.
Baatia, who had a full-time job working as an investment manager and a proud mom of two, got into fitness training two years ago, after discovering it in Dubai. She has been devoted to sports activities since then.
“I started my career two years ago and I faced many challenges since there were no CrossFit facilities in Saudi Arabia. I had to travel to Dubai most of the time, and to the US as well, in order to learn and practice this type of sport and gain more experience,” Baatia said in an interview with Okaz Daily.
“I was an investment manager, and I had to attend my full-time job every morning. Moreover, I am a mother of two children. However, with God’s will, I somehow was able to cope with my new lifestyle,” she said. She managed to fulfill her duties as an employee and a mother, and she did not stop practicing her favorite sport activities.
As for her achievements, last year, she participated in the 5-km obstacle course race in Kuwait and ranked third with a time of 28 minutes. She also participated in the 12-km running race that took place at King Abdullah City and came in 2nd.
“Nowadays, I am fully devoted to sports as I have left my job as an investment manager,” she said, explaining that she now has more free time to train and reach more achievements in the future.