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A woman who embraced professional Camel At 40, Sawari now wants to see the sport incorporated in 2032 olympics In Brisbane, Australia.
Jennifer Reggio, now 42, spent her formative years here Dubaibeginning horse riding at 6. She later became a horse trainer and racer before returning to the United States Dubai in 2013 to raise their son Liam, now 13.
A decade later, in 2023, Ms. Reggio discovered women’s camel racing and was immediately drawn to “try it out.”
After only two months of intensive training, he finished fourth in his debut 2,000 meters race.
The game demands considerable skill; The riders guide the camels by patting their necks. Although animals are trained to run straight, they do not always follow suit.
Ms Rezio said it was essential to “know how to hold on or fall” to avoid their powerful legs.
“Camels can decide to turn in the opposite direction in the middle of a race, causing the rider’s seat to dislodge or you to fall off completely,” he said.
“It’s happened to me – it’s painful but you come back.
“That’s the nature of the game, it’s terrifyingly thrilling.
“Starting something new at 40 is the best thing I can advise any man or woman.
“We are at our peak – smarter and stronger.
“For other women, take a chance, do what makes you happy and get butterflies in your stomach!”
Ms. Reggio said she was used to the fast speed because both horses and camels run at about 40 miles per hour, but she was not used to “swimming on the back of a camel, which is very difficult.”
To become a good camel rider, people need natural balance and strength in mind and body, he said.
“You also need a brave heart.
“Training for racing is more than just throwing yourself out there – it takes courage and determination and a lot of balance and patience and confidence.”
To begin with, Ms. Reggio found the training “nerve-wracking” because she had less control than riding a horse.
In her first 2,000 meters race, as part of the Arabian Desert Camel Riding Club (ADCRC) in 2023, she came fourth and was “very proud” of herself.
In the summer of 2023, she joined the race France and has been competing ever since saudi arabia several times a year.
Since the competition she realized that there are many misconceptions about camels.
“They’re extremely smart animals, but most people would probably look at a camel and think they don’t have much to go on.
“The best camel may be on his mark today and be unbeatable, but then in the next race, if they’ve had a bad morning and someone has been rude to them, they won’t want to do that.”
When she tells people who don’t live in Dubai about her game, many think it’s “really weird”.
He said: “It’s always an interesting conversation topic for people, and obviously they’re very interested in understanding how I started, and why I started.
“Most people don’t think that camels move that fast.”
Among those who believe camel racing is unethical, he said: “Camels are part of a really rich history in the Middle East, and camels were their main mode of transportation for years.”
Looking to the future, Ms Reggio is campaigning for the sport to be included in the 2032 Olympics in Australia.
She said: “Camel racing is no sport for the faint of heart, but when I’m on the track, flying across the desert on one of these incredible animals, there’s nothing else like it.
“That’s why I keep going and that’s why I’ll never give up on the dream.”