Ibtihaj Muhammad, a female US fencer, will become the first US Muslim to compete in the Olympics wearing a hijab. On Saturday, she took bronze in the Women’s Sabre World Cup, which earned her enough Olympic qualifying points to make it to the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics this year.
She will make the history books by becoming the first US Muslim to compete in the Olympics wearing a hijab.
She began fencing aged 13, claiming that she chose the sport because it allowed her to stay in line with her Muslim dress code—a fencing uniform requires the fencer’s body to remain completely covered.
“My parents were looking for a sport for me to play where I wouldn’t have to alter the uniform as a Muslim woman,” she told BuzzFeed.
Muhammad fenced at Duke University, continuing the sport professionally after graduating. She told BuzzFeed that her inspiration came from her mother, who would support her financially and emotionally as she competed.
“Most parents tell their kids before matches to do their best, or to have fun,” Muhammad said. “My mom always said the same thing: ‘Don’t waste my money.’”
She also claims that she was motivated by the lack of diversity in the sport, saying that the sport has always been reserved for “white people with money,” and that she does not think that represents US society as a whole.
