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Sari Miriam EssayahFinnish athlete, politician
Date of Birth: 21.02.1967
Country:  Finland |
Content:
- Sari Essayah: A multifaceted Finnish Trailblazer
- Athletic Career
- Political Career
- Health and Advocacy
- Personal Life
Sari Essayah: A multifaceted Finnish Trailblazer
Early Life and EducationSari Essayah was born in Haukivuori, Finland, on February 21, 1967. A daughter of a Moroccan father and Finnish mother, she graduated from school in Lapinlahti in 1986. Essayah went on to pursue higher education at the University of Vaasa, earning a Master's degree in Economics in 1995. She is a devout member of the Pentecostal church.
Athletic Career
Essayah rose to prominence as a competitive racewalker, representing Finland at international events. She won the bronze medal at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo in the 10 km event. In 1993, she triumphed at the World Championships in Stuttgart, becoming the world champion. The following year, she claimed the gold medal at the 1994 European Championships in Helsinki. Essayah participated in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona but finished fourth, narrowly missing the podium. She competed again at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, placing 16th in the 10 km event before retiring from athletics.
Political Career
Essayah transitioned successfully from sports to politics. She served as a Member of the Finnish Parliament from 2003 to 2007, and was re-elected in 2015. In 2009, she was elected to the European Parliament. In 2012, she ran for the presidency of Finland as the candidate of the Christian Democrats party but came in last place. Essayah was elected as the Chairperson of the Christian Democrats party in 2015. In 2016, she became a member of the International Olympic Committee and is currently the Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for the 2026 Olympic Games.
Health and Advocacy
In August 2019, Essayah announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had begun treatment. She has also been a vocal advocate for human rights, particularly for Belarusian political prisoner Nikolai Dedok, who she took under her patronage in 2011.
Personal Life
Essayah married Robert Knapp, a deacon in social work, in 1991. They have two daughters: Noora and Neea. During her time as a Member of the European Parliament, Essayah lived with her family in Brussels. As of 2015, they resided in Lapinlahti.
