This archive report was first published on 20 May 2020.
May 20, 2020 - The COVID-19 pandemic has forced athletes worldwide to find creative ways to stay fit in confinement. For Iranian athlete Maryam Toosi, a top sprinter, this means training on the rooftop of her apartment in Tehran.
With Iran's deadly coronavirus outbreak claiming nearly 7,200 lives, the government ordered the closure of sports facilities in mid-March. This has forced athletes of all disciplines to practice in public parks, with some even training in areas wedged between highways.
As the 31-year-old Toosi explained to AFP, she has been training at home, using any available space, including the rooftop, inside her house, or even in the alley next to her apartment.
'I train at home, in any space I can use, like the rooftop, inside the house or even in the alley next to the apartment,' she said.
With 159,000 followers on Instagram, Toosi has become a household name in Iran. She holds the country's records for 100, 200, and 400 meters and claimed two gold medals at the Asian Indoor Championships in 2012 and 2014.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Toosi remains determined to stay in shape, saying, 'We have to keep our strength up, because competition will start later and we eventually have to challenge.'
AFP / ATTA KENARE
Iranian footballer Fatime Norollahi takes part in goalkeeping training in a public park just across from Tehran's huge Azadi sports complex, which has been closed by the coronavirus.
AFP / ATTA KENARE
