TRENTON, NJ: Ibtihaj Muhammad, 30, a native of New Jersey, will be the first hijab-wearing American athlete to compete at the Olympic Games in Rio this summer.
When she was 13, her mother suggested that she give fencing a try because the sport allowed her to remain fully clothed.
Now Ibtihaj’s devotion to fencing has her set to make history.
“After I graduated from college (at Duke), I saw there was a lack of minorities in the sport,” Muhammad told TeamUSA.org. “I recognized that I had a skill set, so I started to pursue fencing full time. I felt that it was something the squad needed. There were barriers that needed to be broken in women’s saber.”
She added: “I want to compete in the Olympics for the United States to prove that nothing should hinder anyone from reaching their goals — not race, religion or gender. I want to set an example that anything is possible with perseverance.”
When she isn't busy racking up medals, Ibtihaj occupies herself running Louella, an online clothing boutique she founded that sells "modest, fashion forward" apparel.
When she was 13, her mother suggested that she give fencing a try because the sport allowed her to remain fully clothed.
Now Ibtihaj’s devotion to fencing has her set to make history.
“After I graduated from college (at Duke), I saw there was a lack of minorities in the sport,” Muhammad told TeamUSA.org. “I recognized that I had a skill set, so I started to pursue fencing full time. I felt that it was something the squad needed. There were barriers that needed to be broken in women’s saber.”
She added: “I want to compete in the Olympics for the United States to prove that nothing should hinder anyone from reaching their goals — not race, religion or gender. I want to set an example that anything is possible with perseverance.”
When she isn't busy racking up medals, Ibtihaj occupies herself running Louella, an online clothing boutique she founded that sells "modest, fashion forward" apparel.
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