CONNECTOR.AE 56 CONNECTOR.AE 57 Lifestyle Lifestyle underway. I’m optimistic about witnessing similar progress in our region soon.” Areej’s perspective reflects the changing landscape and growing opportunities for women in football. She also adds, encouraging collaborations among established sporting entities in the country with significant followings can contribute to this normalisation process. Guinness World Record-Breaking Journey On 29 July, 2020, amid the professional football journey, Areej Al Hammadi achieved something remarkable during the lockdown. Fuelled by her competitive nature and a love for challenges, she broke the Guinness World Record for the most ‘hotstepper’ tricks in one minute. Reflecting on this achievement, Areej shared, “I am naturally competitive and always seek new challenges. Breaking the record (86 tricks) wasn’t planned initially; it was a spontaneous decision during lockdown when home fitness challenges were trending on social media. I thought, why not break a world record instead? Discovering a potential record in my favourite sport was a chance for me to make history and put Emirati women’s football on the global stage.” This impromptu decision added another significant milestone to her already impressive football journey. Life As A Football Player, What All Goes Behind The Scene Areej, also a Senior Manager of Design and Production, offers a glimpse into her daily life to unveil the effort behind the visible hustle. “Balancing a semiprofessional football career with my role as a Senior Manager demands careful planning and time management. Whether I’m training early before work or focusing on maintaining energy throughout the day, I transition into my football athlete role in the evening. This involves early sleep and healthy eating, and if not in football training, I’m at the gym for strength and
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