CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Iranian skier Forough Abbasi accomplished one goal merely by completing her giant slalom run at the skiing world championships. It made no difference to her that she crossed the finish line nearly 25 seconds behind American favorite Mikaela Shiffrin. The 27-year-old Abbasi then made an emotional appeal for women’s rights in her country after her coach was banned from leaving Iran by her husband. Husbands can stop their wives from traveling outside of country under Iranian law. Abbasi says “I wish we could change it. We are trying. I’m sure the strong women can for sure change these rules and she will be stronger than before.”
