- “I’ve faced negativity, because when you're from a Muslim, Arab community, where women aren't seen to be strong, lifting heavy weights can create a backlash, but it just makes me more motivated to break down barriers!”
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 03.06.2026) :: Glasgow 2026 bound Team England para powerlifter Doaa Shayea has a wry smile on her face when she summarises her travel towards a maiden Commonwealth Games as having been “a journey.”
The lifter is modest when asked to discuss her achievements, but the 28-year-old has also been grounded by the significant challenges she has faced and also overcome.
Life as a child with spinal bifida presented obvious physical complications for Shayea, but societal struggles, which left her feeling “constantly underestimated” and feeling like she “didn’t belong” led to arguably even greater psychological tests.
Religion helped her find “inner peace” while sport became “an escape.” She believes that the two elements combined ultimately enabled her to “find purpose” in life.
After time competing in wheelchair tennis and wheelchair racing, Shayea is now revelling in the limelight which has followed her since swapping wheels for weights.
Last year she made her major international debut for Great Britain at the 2025 World Championships, while last month she claimed European Championships silver.
“Every time you go onto the stage representing your country, it's just something I'm in a very honoured and privileged to be able to do,” Shayea tells Glasgow 2026.
“I just want to do it justice.”
Although the Plymouth-based lifter has ambitions to place on the podium come the Commonwealth Games in July, the main ‘target’ she is referring to arguable matters more than medals.
“I really hope that by seeing someone like myself it opens doors for younger women and girls who are also Muslim, who don't need to fear being strong and can be empowered by it,” Shayea states.
“Within society, seeing women being strong, it has a bit of a backlash, especially when you're in a male-dominated sport, but even more so when you're from a Muslim community, so I’m having to break through cultural stereotypes.
“You can't be what you can't see and growing up I couldn't see someone like me, so I've had to become that representation and to be that for other young girls and women is an honour.”
Shayea admits anyone with a similar background to herself needs to be “mentally tough” to overcome the societal pressures they will likely encounter, but she insists that perseverance will pay dividends in the long-term.
“Yes, you might face so much negativity and it could make you question if you belong and whether you should lift, but you absolutely should,” Shayea insists.
“It’s not only breaking those barriers, but it's also for life. Because, especially with a disability, to be able to manage your day-to-day life, to be independent, to lift things and reach, being strong is vital.
“I think everybody should be weight training and not fearing being strong, because it's silly to be fearing something that is such a positive and if your body's capable of doing such a thing, then let it reach its potential.”
The European medallist insists she has noticed some societal shifts when it comes to acceptance, particularly when it comes to representation and celebration in the digital space.
“There's a lot of more people on social media, more women in a hijab getting out to the gym, lifting, squatting, bench pressing and I get so many messages about how I'm the source of that inspiration,” continues Shayea.
“Seeing me in a wheelchair benching those crazy numbers inspires able-bodied women to do just that, let alone women and girls in wheelchairs as well.”
Shayea took silver at the British Weight Lifting Championships earlier this month and while that was a strong result, the athlete herself insists she is capable of much more.
The Team England lifter aims to prove that at Glasgow 2026.
“Obviously, I wanted the gold and it hurts, but I think I'd rather it hurt now than Commonwealth Games,” Shayea says.
“They’re the biggest event I've done in my entire sports career, absolutely huge. It's a privilege, and I really want to do the opportunity justice, just experience it and enjoy it.”
Cr-Glasgow2026
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