Trials of an Iranian Female Swimmer

Iran's top female freewater swimmer, Elham Asghari, has turned to social networks in a plea for help from supporters, after the country's sports authorities refused to register her 20-kilometer swimming record. The video she posted as part of her appeal has generated a wave of public protest and sympathy, going viral across Persian-language media and social networking sites and drawing the attention of millions. 

Iranwire turned to another top Iranian female swimmer, Tonia Valioghli, to discuss Ashgari's bid for recognition of her record, and the challenges Iranian women face in competitive swimming. The Islamic Republic's strict dress codes require female swimmers to wear bulky, all-covering coats and headscarves in the water; but despite such discouraging obstacles, Iranian women have pursued professional swimming eagerly, often performing in step with international competitors.  

Valioghli holds her own swimming records, and is a former member of the Iranian National Swimming Team who has participated in numerous competitions around the world, including the 197 Tehran Asian Games. She presently lives in the United States, but has followed the Iranian women's sports scene for over three decades, during which she also coached championship games in Germany. She talked to us about fraught climate for women's sports in Iran, particularly swimming, and what Elham Asghari's video reflects about wider challenges. 

In her video clip, Asghari says that she swam 20 kilometers in the coastal waters of the Caspian Sea near Nowshahr, Mazandaran Province, but that after “bargaining”  authorities “reduced her record to 15 kilometers,” and after her objection, “they agreed to 18 kilometers.” Despite this negotiation, she says authorities have refused to formally register her record, on grounds that her apparel in the water was deemed as inappropriate under Islamic sharia, or legal code. But Asghari says she swam in proper Islamic dress code, that seven witnesses present can testify to this, and that no men were present as observers. “People who can’t even swim 20 meters themselves have taken my 20-kilometer record hostage,” Asghari says, adding that she will not give in to bullying. “I ask you to please not give in to bullying, eithe.,” 

The posting of the video on social networks has generated a wave of solidarity, messages of sympathy, and expressions of outrage at discrimination and the difficult conditions of women’s sports in Iran. Iranwire’s interview with Tonia Valioghli follows:

How did you learn about Elham Asghari’s story, and as a professional swimmer and a national swimming champion, how did you feel when you heard her plea for help?

I saw it early in the morning when I received an email from an old sportsman friend from New York. I was so angry at the Deputy Minister of Sports, someone I know to be against women and women’s sports, but I was very saddened about Elham. I know how she feels, because swimming practice is not easy. For a 100-meter record, you will have had to swim several kilometers a day for months and years in order to achieve such results. It is harder for her in endurance swimming, because she needs more kilometers. It is obvious that refusing her under such ridiculous grounds has devastated her. Regarding her plea for help, I said immediately, “Kudos! You are a truly determined sportswoman!”

Why isn’t there much support within Iran for women’s sports, and in this particular case, for women’s swimming? Given that women endure terrible limitations to practice swimming, thick clothing that interferes with their competitiveness, why do you think they still face such opposition? 

We must first see whether the record refusal is a matter of taste or an overall policy, because by definition, the required Islamic covering is even less than what Elham has worn. If we resolve this issue, we must then see what happens if they provide a definition for women’s swimming gear. Iranians, especially the young generation, widely enjoy going to the beach and the seaside, and if wearing a special outfit makes it possible to go, the young generation of women will find the opportunity to appear in co-ed spaces. Regarding competitions and Islamic gear, I should point out that whatever the Iranian authorities approve must be accepted by the International Federation of Swimming (FINA), and this isn’t easy, as they would not agree to just anything. The swimmer’s swimsuit plays a major role in her speed; it could prevent her from swimming. Our girls will not be able to participate in important competitions at international levels with this outfit.

How did society react to you when you were a swimmer before the 1979 Islamic revolution? Back then you had to wear the swimsuits that met international standards. Did you have any problems with religious fanatics or any distressing encounters with ordinary people? Were you criticized for what you wore to swim?

Not only were there no problems, our presence encouraged the other parents. I was only 12 when I returned home from international competitions. Lower level trainers, fans, and spectators at the Amjadieh [Shahid Shiroodi Sports Complex] pool asked us for our autographs. I’m sure if there were cell phones back then, they would have taken photographs with us, too! Back then, we didn’t have closed-minded people in the middle of sports fields, so we weren’t aware of them. Boy swimmers treated us just like their own families, with kindness and respect. Girls swimming and swimming as a whole was very popular among other athletes and attracted many spectators.

How have the post-revolution limitations on women’s sports affected their progress and presence in athletics, or even on seeing sports as a part of daily life?

Look at the gender segregation among sports spectators. Before the revolution, we didn’t have a lot of facilities, but whatever we had was available equally to men and women. Later gender segregation deprived women from movement. Look at the school yards where kids could play sports, there was always a basketball hoop or a volleyball net. After the revolution, all this gear was eliminated from the yards of all-girl schools, and students in towns and remote areas became even more deprived. For example, even now when we have women’s soccer teams, I noticed last year that for selecting players for the National Soccer Team, from among half of the country’s population, women, there were only seven women’s soccer teams in national competitions. Forming a team is not the problem, because we have the human resources for it, but there are no facilities, only obstacles.

If Iranian women are interested in swimming now, how prepared are they for competitions? Do the obstacles they face permit them to fairly compete with women from other countries?

No. The obstacle of the Islamic covering has meant that the women’s swimming team has never been able to compete outside Iran. But during the three years that Iran hosted the made-up “Islamic Women’s Games,” the national Team was able to swim. The first time the Iranian Swimming Team was under the direction of my sister, Katia Valioghli, a former member of Tehran Swim Team. They came in first, but they had brought swimmers from the Azerbaijan Republic, Armenia, and Syria. These swimmers competed at a very low level. Our women’s swimming records are very weak as compared to the rest of the world; the footprint of the past 35 years is evident in this area.

Nonetheless, the national swimming competitions have been held annually since 1979, but it’s only attended by women. This is a photograph from inside Shiroodi pool, where the February 1981 competitions were held.

And these are the swimmers outside the hotel where they were staying during the competition. There was no compulsory hejab yet, but swimming pools had been segregated for men and women. This is photo of Tehran Team swimmers, who, I was there and served as a coach, were the national champions. 

Who oversees women's sports in Iran today, what do you know about this oversight? 

Sports in Iran has become one of the most corrupt areas of society, because of money, assets, and rampant theft. The Revolutionary Guards are at the helm now, and unfortunately, in the area of women’s sports, most of the authorities have no expertise. But there are still some national figures in the technical area, people who are still working after 35 years, and women who loved sports, became sportswomen, and have stayed on as coaches.

When the existing structure was turned into the Sports Ministry, some changes were made. Now male officials appoint some female officials, and they sometimes do administrative work together. Ms. Akbarabadi represents several different gangs and her anti-women stances are known to all. You must read her opinions about banning women from ring sports, which include boxing and kickboxing.

You're referring to Marzieh Akbarabad, the deputy director of the Iranian Sports Administration for Women's Sports. How do you see her as being she anti-women? What in her policies or conduct has led you to believe that?

Two to three years ago she said that whatever sports could hurt women must not be allowed. She has raised the issue of women’s virginity in relation to gymnastics, cycling, and horse riding. They have filthy minds. Wherever women’s legs have had to stretch for a sport, she has opined about it, for example she has talked about the angle of the women equestrians’ thighs, etc.

As Elham Asghari’s story is making the rounds on social networks and drawing media attention, it seems like her voice is being heard. There must be many others dealing with the same problems. Is having a media platform in this way significant? 

I have had six interviews with radio and television stations over the past couple of days. The news went viral on Facebook and on other networks and it received a lot of attention alongside political news. This shows the significance of the issue. The significance of the story is in the [authorized] competition outfit, where the government puts so much pressure on sportswomen, that they are willing to comply with anything [just to be able to do a sport]. But they won’t even grant this, and I believe they are stuck [about what to do]. The young generation must especially speak its mind to the new government, and of course they mustn’t wait for a response or positive action. But after the four-year lethargy that followed the intimidation, silencing, and suppression, the new atmosphere, even if [the election] is a sham, must be put to good use.

Even if justified because of its unfairness, could such an objection be risky for individuals?

From what we have seen, whatever is made public and reflected in the media will be less likely to hide or harder to do so, and it strengthens the mentality of fighting and seeking justice. This girl [Elham] did everything within the framework of internal laws and it may not be so easy to shut her up.

Do you think that Mr. Rouhani’s election as president could improve the current situation?

[The officials] can’t even agree on things among themselves. All changes are only implemented to maintain the regime in power. I think some time should pass, and maybe things will settle down, but as for fundamental changes, never. But I hope that I’m wrong and that there will be a future to which the young generation will be devoted.

Mr. Rouhani came with slogans, one of which was respect for citizenship rights. The Iranian women can pose this as a demand, can’t they? Yes. There must be no hesitation in posing demands. It is not clear whether on the other side, fundamental actions will be taken to move forward or not. On the international arena, they must do their best to lift the sanctions, but I’m not too optimistic about internal affairs. We must not forget that this gentleman is not even a reformist.

In order to observe women’s rights, or to bring about positive changes, it is not necessary for this one person to be a reformist. Individuals with a conscience and sufficient vision can also hear women’s rightful demands.

I hope I am wrong. My mistake won’t matter, but their mistake will be significant.