The sweetheart Palestinian swimmer who glides through the water with unmatched grace and speed dreamed of one day representing Palestine in her favorite sport – swimming.  

Valerie, a third-generation Palestinian, was born in Illinois where she grew up. Her grandfather and several family members were compelled to leave Gaza and settled in the United States during the 1950’s.  

Her passion for swimming, influenced by her family, led her to start competing at a young age. With perseverance she was training twice daily by age 12, and later went on to compete for Auburn University, where she graduated. When the PAAA acknowledged the Palestinian swimmer skills and ambition, it signaled a life-changing moment.  

Her dedication and countless hours of training paid off spectacularly as she had her first international competition in July 2023 at the Arab Games in Algeria. Valerie amazed everyone by clinching two gold, three silver, and one bronze medal. She emerged as the most successful medalist of the event. Valerie felt a profound sense of accomplishment with the Palestinian flag wrapped around her shoulders. 

After the the competition Valerie visited Palestine hosted by the POC, where she toured the area, shared her journey, and inspired others to chase their dreams to dive into swimming. 

Tarazi’s journey to success has only just begun. Through daily practice and sheer determination, she has paved her way to represent Palestine in the Asian Games, which was held in China in September 2023, setting new personal records in every competition along the way. 

Valerie will forever be remembered as the Palestinian Olympian who represented Palestine at the Paris Olympics in 2024 with a Palestinian flag painted on her arm. She won the hearts of the crowd who erupted in cheers. Valerie achieved a new personal record for her 200m swimming performance in Paris. 

Her triumph was not just a personal victory but an inspiration to many, showcasing the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, calling for justice and hoping for peace. In an interview, she expressed, “We will continue to speak out for the victims of Gaza and will not shy away from sharing our story.” Departing Palestine for the USA last September, she was devastated by the loss of close friends and family in her homeland. She felt a deep sense of responsibility in representing them all.

Terazi expresses gratitude to everyone who has supported her along her journey.