The first woman Olympian to compete in athletics finished last in her 800m heat on Wednesday.
Sarah Attar finished last in 2 minutes 44.95 seconds but was given a rousing reception as she crossed the line in the London Olympic Stadium.
Speaking after the race, Attar said she hoped her appearance would make a “huge difference” for women in the Gulf kingdom
Attar, who has Saudi Arabian and American dual nationality, speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, said: “It is such an honour to be representing Saudi Arabia. Hopefully this can make such a huge difference.
“It was such a unique opportunity [to represent Saudi Arabia], they invited me and welcomed me and to make that first step for women is just the most amazing feeling ever.”
The first Saudi Arabian woman to compete in the Olympic Games lost her first round match in the judo competition on Friday.
Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani – wearing a tight-fitting black cap – was thrown easily by Puerto Rican judoka Melissa Mojica in 1 minute, 22 seconds.
Also on Friday morning, Qatar’s first female competitor, sprinter Noor Al-Malki, pulled up early in her 100m race with a suspected hamstring injury.
Last month, US-based Human Rights Watch said the participation of two Saudi female athletes in the London Olympics was an important first step but did not go far enough in addressing entrenched problems of gender discrimination in the kingdom.
The rights group said in a statement that Saudi Arabia should end the effective ban preventing millions of women and girls from practicing sports inside the kingdom.
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