Aziza Sbaity (Instagram) is a Lebanese sprinter and the 100m Lebanese national record holder. She’s represented her country at World Championships and is aiming to represent Lebanon at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. She’s determined to support athletes from her home country and across the region and she’s currently studying for her MBA in preparation for life after the track.
How did you first discover your talent and passion for running?
It all started when I moved from Liberia to Lebanon at the age of 10-11 and started school at SABIS in Lebanon. The school had their annual tryouts early in the fall. Little did I know that running fast was something important. I had always been a super competitive child growing up in Liberia. I played kickball, baseball, and tennis and was definitely a sore loser if I ever lost. During the tryouts I won over all the girls and the coaches were very impressed and surprised with my speed. So, they put me up against the boys and I won against them as well. The year I finally decided to take track seriously was my last year of school. I started training with Jamhour Club. And that was when my real running journey began.
You’re originally from Monrovia. How did you end up in Lebanon?
My mother is Liberian but my father is Lebanese. So I was born and raised in Liberia but I never once didn’t know that I was equally both. Both of my countries suffer from the pains of civil war and civil unrest. During the war in Liberia in the early 2000’s my family and I fled and moved to Lebanon.
What’s the greatest challenge you’ve faced to date?
My greatest challenge has been to find a balance in juggling between training, competing, studying, working and making a living. I love track and field and I know that it’s my passion but in Lebanon, it’s quite hard or even impossible to make a living out of it. So trying to find the right balance to give it my all in training while making time to invest in my self-growth, education and work isn’t the easiest thing.
What do you see as your greatest achievement?
I don’t know if I have achieved what I would call “my greatest achievement”. Maybe athletes in general are perfectionists or overachievers so as much as I am extremely grateful for where I am right now and what I have achieved in the past couple of years (especially this season), I still feel like there is a lot more I’d like to achieve.
What are your plans for the future?
When it comes to my track career, I look forward to the new season ahead where my main goal will be to represent Lebanon at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. On the educational level, I’m currently finalising a Masters in Olympic Studies in Germany while also about to start an MBA. I really look forward to mixing my career as an athlete with bigger issues of governance and sports development in Lebanon and the region.
Do you have any advice for young people, women in particular, who are interested in pursuing sports?
My advice for young people and women in particular would be to first of all follow their instincts and their passion, then to find a group/community that will support their growth and then to work really hard and smart to reach their goals and dreams. You will have a lot of bumps in the road but never give up on your dreams.
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