Arab woman competes @ London 2012 Olympics

Sarah Attar finished last in the 800m heat but her race time mattered little, history was what counted most for. Yesterday, she became the first Saudi Arabian woman to compete in the Olympic athletics. Attar drew a roar of approval from over 80,000 fans as she crossed the finish line in 2mins, 44.9 seconds.

The Arab state finally allowed women into its team after years of lobbying by feminist groups prompted talks with the International Olympic Committee.

Speaking about the race, Sarah said: ‘Hopefully, this marks something amazing. It was about the cause, not about if I won or not. I wanted to make a difference. To make that first step for women is the most amazing feeling.’

American-born Attar, who has dual Saudi and US citizenship, wore a white headscarf for her run to conform with Islamic law.