11-year-old expat takes up Dubai Fitness Challenge

Zabadi trains three times a day at the Kite Beach to prepare for the triathlon presented by Lacnor.

The Dubai Fitness Challenge has got quite a young participant who chose to prove that children, too, can go beyond their limits.
Jordanian-Spanish Laith Zabadi, 11, is gearing up for the XDubai X3 Junior Triathlon - competing for prize across running, swimming and biking on Kite Beach on November 17.
Even since the Dubai Fitness Challenge was announced, Zabadi took it upon himself to exercise every day for 30 minutes. "I play football, go for a jog and run on the treadmill for at least an hour a day. I want to build stamina and muscles," said the seventh grader at GEMS FirstPoint School.
Zabadi trains three times a day at the Kite Beach to prepare for the triathlon presented by Lacnor. He said his choice to join was the motivation to get him to move to lose weight and build muscles.
"Exercising made me happier, more fit and healthy," said Zabadi who plans to continue exercising even after the challenge is over. "I play football with my classmates, and I figured if I can walk and run every day. It'll help me play better and build stamina to continue for longer rounds."
His mother, Lara Schinackow, said Zabadi took exercising as a way of life when he saw the family's general enthusiasm about sports. This year will be his second time to join the triathlon. She added that Zabadi joined the Pirates Surf Rescue team since he was five.
"Dubai is the place to do it because it provides a safe environment for children. I'm sure if [Laith] wasn't active as a child, it would've been harder to get him into sports at an older stage," said Schinackow. On weekends, the family organises fun-filled weekends of yoga and physical activities.
She noted that providing children with fun sports activities encourages them to become fit and more disciplined. "Thanks to the fitness challenge, people are more encouraged to take advantage of the weather and be active outdoors. I hope we, as a community, continue to carry this forward," said Schinackow.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com