Dawn Barnable's 1,030-km BikingMan Oman Adventure.
While many acknowledge the disparity in media coverage between men's and women's sports, few take action—like Dubai resident Dawn Barnable. In 2022, the Canadian expat co-founded one of the Middle East's first platforms dedicated to spotlighting women's sports and niche endurance and action sports, rarely featured in mainstream media. With 84 episodes, The Mettleset reaches listeners in 114 countries, highlighting regional trailblazers like Moroj Adil, Saudi Arabia's first pro cyclist, and Nadhira Al Harthy, the first Omani woman to summit Everest.
"Our success indicates a hunger for more female voices and diverse Middle Eastern perspectives," Barnable told Khaleej Times.
The 43-year-old handles research, presentation, and editing for each episode, balancing this with her communications consultancy. She observes that the Middle East is experiencing a golden era for women's sports, with weekly historic achievements. "This summer, Safiya Al Sayegh became the first female Emirati cyclist to compete in the Olympics, while Dunya Abu Talib became the first Saudi woman to secure direct Olympic qualification. It's a privilege to support them and aid in developing the region's women's sports ecosystem."
Barnable's 14-year career in sports communications inspired The Mettleset in 2019, driven by frustration over the lack of media coverage for a women's event she was managing. Her interest in endurance sports deepened after her first ultra-cycling event that year. "From buying a bike to completing the 1,030-km BikingMan Oman in three months was insane, but I loved it. It proved that hard work and perseverance can achieve anything."
"Cycling has connected me with remarkable people and those solo hours in Oman helped me define my life's direction and my role in the world," she added. In 2022, a job misalignment with her values prompted her to quit and launch her platform. "I decided to leverage my career skills and connections to create meaningful change in the sports industry. This feels like my life's calling."
Beyond her podcast, Barnable advocates for change, sharing research with sports organizations, brands, and media agencies to garner support for women's sports. "Hearing that my work aids women or girls fuels my determination despite challenges. Like athletes, we need support. I've completed three more self-supported ultra cycling races since 2019 and am diving into mountain biking. I want everyone to experience the magic of adventure, competition, movement, and achievement through sport." She concluded, "We must ensure female athletes receive the same opportunities, equity, and support as their male counterparts."
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