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The Saudi Women’s Basketball Team Won Gold At The Special Olympics And Made History

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Saudi women made history again by participating in Special Olympics World Summer Games for the first time ever earlier this month. And they aren’t just participating – they are all about winning.

The Saudi women’s basketball team has won gold in the basketball championship final at the Special Olympics

The Saudi Arabian team won 16-11 versus its Ivorian counterpart in the final. Ivory Coast took home the silver medal, while Kuwait settled for bronze

Earlier, they also speak to the global sensation, Humans of New York, about what participating in the Special Olympics means to them.

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“We are the first female athletes from Saudi Arabia. It makes us feel wow. It’s one of the nicest moments in our life. I have to be happy and positive because I am the basketball team captain. Whenever we make a shot, I clap. I also clap if we miss it. And I clap if the other team makes it. If somebody is sad I tell them don’t be upset my sweet heart. And then I rub their shoulder. This is my teammate Dahwia– I am her friend and she is my friend. I love her so much. She loves food and we dance together. We blow each other kisses during the game. Yesterday we won. But it doesn’t matter if we lose because at the end we always dance.” (Special Olympics World Games, Abu Dhabi, UAE)

A post shared by Humans of New York (@humansofny) on

Saudi athletes took home a national record-breaking total of 40 medals from the sporting event – 18 gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze medals. The kingdom was represented by 50 athletes, including 21 women.

The international sporting event for athletes with intellectual disabilities was held in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, from March 14-21 and was the first time the event was held in the region.

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