Zeina Nassar is a six-time boxing champion, who is known not only for her athletic success, but also for her ability to change the status quo for the sport. She is the current Berlin Boxer title holder and she won the German Women's Elite Championship for her weight group in 2018. Nassar is a veteran of many contests both in and out of the ring, and she punches far above her weight, advocating inclusion along the way.
Born in Berlin, Germany to Lebanese parents, Nassar discovered her love of the sport early in life while watching workout videos of female boxers with a friend at the age of 13. Inspired by the strength, discipline, and elegance of the women in the videos, they went to a boxing studio in the area to watch a live version. She was hooked on boxing from that moment.
Getting started was tough. In addition to being a woman in a sport dominated by men, Nassar is a Muslim and proudly wears a hijab. After a year of training, she signed up for her first competition, and discovered that boxing rules did not permit her to compete while wearing a hijab in the ring. Faced with challenges arising from the prejudices of training partners, onlookers, and the general public, she never backed down. Her coach was a tremendous advocate, campaigning for more inclusive rules and successfully winning a change in 2013.
Since then, she has gone on to become a champion boxer, Nike-sponsored athlete, and advocate. 2017 saw Nike release the first performance hijab designed for women in sports, drawing on the experiences of women like Nassar.
Proud of her accomplishments to date and working hard to bring her future goals into reality, she says of herself, she said, “I want to encourage people, especially women, to not take “no” for an answer. I want women to feel strong, brave, independent, victorious....Every day, I receive messages of people telling me how much I’ve helped them with conquering fears and doubts. It gives me so much pride, hope and happiness. It fuels my own motivation to fight. Not only in the ring. Not only for myself. But for all of us. For a brighter future.”