“In November 2026, I will be celebrating 5 years cancer free. I want the journey of training for the Dubai T100 Triathlon to be a reminder of my resilience and the day of the race to be a celebration of how far I have come”
In 2021, Norah was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at 31 years old and underwent chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. The 2026 Dubai T100 Triathlon marks the five year anniversary of completing her treatment.
“Cancer changed the way I see life, my body and my own potential. During those years, simply getting through treatment and rebuilding my strength was enough. My goal was to get through each day, one step at a time.”
Whilst going through treatment, Norah restarted her fitness journey, which began with the simple goals to become more active, feel stronger, and slowly rebuild her confidence.
“I started to see my body less as something that had been through cancer and more as something capable of adapting, becoming stronger and carrying me further than I thought possible.
“Training for a triathlon has given me a completely different way to appreciate my body. Instead of focusing on what it has been through, I get to focus on what it can do. Every training session is a reminder of how far I have come.
“I am training to celebrate the distance between where I was 5 years ago and where I am today.”
Fast forward to 2026 and Norah is preparing to take to the startline at our Dubai T100 Triathlon on 13-15 November.
“For me, completing the T100 isn’t about proving that cancer didn’t change me. It did. It changed me deeply. But it also taught me that I am stronger, more determined and more capable than I ever realised.”
Norah said that triathlon represents a new chapter for her in her life. “It isn’t a return to who I was before cancer, it is a celebration of who I am now.
“I want to cross that finish line knowing that I have taken one of the most difficult experiences of my life and turned it into something positive, powerful and completely my own.”
Triathlon is not about making it to the finish line. It’s about the training, the battles, and the journey to get to the startline. That is what makes a triathlete.
“The real achievement for me is the journey that gets me there. Race day will be a celebration of resilience, gratitude and how unexpectedly beautiful life can be after you’ve been through something that once felt like it would define you.”
Norah’s advice for anyone thinking about doing a triathlon is simple: “Don’t wait until you feel ready. Start where you are, take it one step at a time and give yourself permission to be a beginner.
“You don’t have to be the fastest or strongest person out there.
“You just have to be willing to start and keep showing up.”
Norah’s story is one of utter resilience, perseverance and strength.
“5 years ago, my challenge was to fight for my life. Today, the challenge is different, but the resilience is the same. I am no longer fighting to get through treatment, I am believing in myself to discover how far I can go,”
Norah Al Hunaidi will be at the startline of our Dubai T100 Triathlon on 13-15 November. Will you be there alongside her?
