The Saudi Games sparks a love of cycling and country for double gold medalist

The third edition of the Saudi Games ended this month, leaving a lasting legacy in the hearts and minds of those who took part.

Some 9,000 local and expatriate athletes competed in 52 sporting disciplines, among them Elisa Grassi. The Italian expat, competing in her second Games, took gold in the women’s road cycling event.

Grassi, 28, is originally from northern Italy. A biomedical researcher by profession, she discovered a passion for cycling not at home, but after moving to Saudi Arabia in 2019.

She says embracing cycling was the “best decision” of her life.

“I have always been in sports somehow because I have always been very active or hyperactive when I was a child. But when I moved to Saudi Arabia, I joined some local running races just for fun,” she said.

“After one of many injuries from running, I decided to start cycling for the first time in 2021 and train for triathlon. It was just for fun and without any proper plan until I saw the possibility of competing in the Saudi Games. So I said, ‘Okay, let’s try to take it a little bit more seriously’.”

Grassi’s newfound focus paid off when she won gold in the women’s triathlon — which combines swimming, running, and cycling — in the inaugural edition of the Saudi Games in 2022. The victory convinced her to concentrate solely on cycling, and she signed with the local AlUla sports club.

“Cycling was always my favorite leg in triathlon. And when I got the opportunity to sign with the AlUla club, I was just like, ‘Okay, I’m just gonna focus on cycling’.”

Her love for the sport, along with the support of her friends and clubmates, drove her dedication.

“I wake up happy every day, excited for the training. Even when I’m tired, even when I’m sore, if it’s cycling, I still feel like I want to push.”

Grassi’s preparation for the 2024 Saudi Games involved serious commitment. She would often wake at 2.30 a.m. at weekends to train, and by August her dedication paid off — she came first in qualifying for the Saudi Games women’s road cycling.

“I didn’t know what to expect, honestly,” she said of the qualification race. “I was really reluctant to attack, so I stayed in the peloton until the last lap. And then when we were climbing the first hill, I saw everyone around. The girl in the front was trying to push the group a bit. And I saw that everyone was really tired. And thought, ‘I feel great. Let’s go’.”

With most of her training completed before qualification, Grassi could focus on maintaining her fitness in the lead up to the main event on Oct. 5.

“The race day and the days before were really fun. I really enjoyed being with my teammates in the hotel and training with my coach. The plan and the support for the race was spectacular. I think we did a great job, especially training and racing with my teammate Mashael, who has been racing way longer than me. She’s very smart, knows the techniques, and she’s really experienced, and I just love to learn from her.”

Grassi says there is a strong sense of community and camaraderie within her team, including coach Yahya Al-Shammari and teammate Mashael Al-Hazmi, as well as friend and supporter Manal Ibrahim, who often supported her early morning training sessions.

“I was alone in the qualification. Then in the final, I was with my teammates, especially Mashael, one of my best friends, who arrived second. So I knew that I was not alone.”

Approaching the main event, Grassi studied the course intently to familiarize herself with the route. Armed with her knowledge, a strong support network, and a robust race plan, she attacked at the right moment, accelerating ahead of the peloton and securing a comfortable lead.

“Crossing the finish line was beautiful, and I had all the possible emotions together because so many things happened during the year. I was just so happy and proud of myself that despite all the difficulties, I managed to achieve what I wanted. And also, that I was not alone because it’s a team, and you have the support of the team, and it’s just beautiful. I loved it so much.”

“Coach Yahya actually is the one who suggested that I attack and I was really scared about it. But I guess he believed in me more than (I believed in) me.”

Looking ahead, Grassi is motivated not just by personal success but by a desire to contribute to the growing sports community in Saudi Arabia. She hopes one day to represent the Kingdom on the international stage.

“It makes me feel like I want to give something back and show the world that we have resources and we have support, and this country is growing. Women’s sports are growing a lot. We have a lot of enthusiasm and passion, and the community honestly is amazing,” she said.

Grassi is already contributing to her adopted country, not just in sports but in science. She is a PhD candidate at King Abdullah University for Science and Technology and is currently working in conjunction with King Saud University in Riyadh on innovative cancer diagnostic tools.

The project involves using liquid biopsies, screening blood plasma through a combination of a technology called Raman spectroscopy and decision-making algorithms.

“The idea behind this comes from the need for cancer diagnosis at early stages, minimizing invasiveness,” said Grassi. “We tested its efficiency on different types of cancer, and once the patent receives final approval, our goal is to see (it) implemented across the country. This way, patients will be able to go for a simple blood test and get screened for different types of cancer.”

Reflecting on her journey, Grassi said she was grateful for the opportunities that have arisen since her move to Saudi Arabia: “The Saudi Games was an amazing opportunity and a sign of the Kingdom’s growing sports sector. The fact that I started cycling here, and all the support to arrive at this point, I got it from Saudi.”

• Dawn Barnable is the founder and host of The Mettleset Podcast, a platform dedicated to women in sport from across the region.