US Female Hijaber Ready for Rio
US Female Hijaber Ready for Rio
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NEW YORK - Why this women athlete said a local hero. Yeah.. Ibtihaj Muhammad, a fencer and a Muslim, could become the first American woman to compete in the Olympics with a hijab, the head scarf worn by Muslim women.
Muhammad is the first to admit how badly she wants to make it to the Olympics in London later this year, and as one of the top ranked female sabre fencers in the world, she has an excellent chance of making the team.
The talented 30 year old African-American saber fencer has already guaranteed her spot on the US Olympic team after earning enough points at the World Cup in Greece in January to qualify.
“It can be hard to imagine yourself as an Olympic athlete because of the way you dress. But I’m hoping this opens the door for Muslim girls to imagine themselves in this space. If this message reaches anyone, even one person, it will be worth it," Muhammad told the Huffington Post.
She grew up in an athletic household but finding a sport she could play was a challenge. Playing volleyball, she couldn’t wear the short shorts or tight tops that other girls wore because of her religious beliefs, and she felt uncomfortable when her teammates would make comments about her dress.
One day, her mother saw fencers practicing in the high school cafeteria covered from head to toe as she was driving past.
“I don’t know what that is. But when you get to high school, you’re doing it,” Denise Muhammad said to her daughter.
She captained two state championship teams at Columbia High School in Maplewood. In fencing, everyone had to dress the same. It was the first time that Muhammad truly felt as if she was part of a team.
She used the sport to take her to Duke University, where she excelled athletically and academically. Muhammad became a three time All American and earned a dual degree in International Relations and African-American Studies with a minor in Arabic.
Muhammad didn’t lose her love of fencing after college. She began working with 2000 US Olympian Akhi Spencer El in New York and won a U.S. national title in 2009. Now she’s competing for one of two spots on the Olympic team.
And it hasn’t been easy. While training during Ramadan, when eating and drinking are prohibited from sun up to sundown, Muhammad would wake during the night to eat every 90 minutes to keep her strength during the day. If she makes the Olympics, she’ll likely have to maintain a similar regimen as the event will occur during Ramadan.
“I didn’t have female Muslim role models to look up to in the athletic world. It’s really important for people to know my story. I think it’s something I have to do, because I want Muslim female youth to believe they can do something like this,” Muhammad told The Star-Ledger.
Denise often watches her daughter compete and sees the cameras focus on her daughter’s name.
“I realized, my God, she’s representing all of us. You feel the pride. Muslim women are struggling around the world. She’s not on the front lines but when she stands up there, she’s making her mark for them, for freedom, to have their voices heard,” she told.
It’s a challenge Muhammad has accepted. She won’t know whether she’s made the Olympic team until the end of March. Whatever happens, Muhammad knows she has made a difference.
“I think my motto in this whole experience is that sports is something you can do in hijab, and you shouldn’t let your faith compromise how athletically gifted you’ve become. Just like race or gender, religion should not hinder you from achieving your goals,” said Muhammad.
Muhammad would not be drawn on what life for Muslims in the US might look like if Trump is elected to the White House in November.
“I hate to talk about what ifs. I’m hoping we can change direction a little bit and see Muslims in more of a positive light and try to combat the negative imagery that we are shown every day. Can I influence the debate? I don’t know. I’m just trying to do well in Rio," she sad.
Muhammad is the first to admit how badly she wants to make it to the Olympics in London later this year, and as one of the top ranked female sabre fencers in the world, she has an excellent chance of making the team.
The talented 30 year old African-American saber fencer has already guaranteed her spot on the US Olympic team after earning enough points at the World Cup in Greece in January to qualify.
“It can be hard to imagine yourself as an Olympic athlete because of the way you dress. But I’m hoping this opens the door for Muslim girls to imagine themselves in this space. If this message reaches anyone, even one person, it will be worth it," Muhammad told the Huffington Post.
She grew up in an athletic household but finding a sport she could play was a challenge. Playing volleyball, she couldn’t wear the short shorts or tight tops that other girls wore because of her religious beliefs, and she felt uncomfortable when her teammates would make comments about her dress.
One day, her mother saw fencers practicing in the high school cafeteria covered from head to toe as she was driving past.
“I don’t know what that is. But when you get to high school, you’re doing it,” Denise Muhammad said to her daughter.
She captained two state championship teams at Columbia High School in Maplewood. In fencing, everyone had to dress the same. It was the first time that Muhammad truly felt as if she was part of a team.
She used the sport to take her to Duke University, where she excelled athletically and academically. Muhammad became a three time All American and earned a dual degree in International Relations and African-American Studies with a minor in Arabic.
Muhammad didn’t lose her love of fencing after college. She began working with 2000 US Olympian Akhi Spencer El in New York and won a U.S. national title in 2009. Now she’s competing for one of two spots on the Olympic team.
And it hasn’t been easy. While training during Ramadan, when eating and drinking are prohibited from sun up to sundown, Muhammad would wake during the night to eat every 90 minutes to keep her strength during the day. If she makes the Olympics, she’ll likely have to maintain a similar regimen as the event will occur during Ramadan.
“I didn’t have female Muslim role models to look up to in the athletic world. It’s really important for people to know my story. I think it’s something I have to do, because I want Muslim female youth to believe they can do something like this,” Muhammad told The Star-Ledger.
Denise often watches her daughter compete and sees the cameras focus on her daughter’s name.
“I realized, my God, she’s representing all of us. You feel the pride. Muslim women are struggling around the world. She’s not on the front lines but when she stands up there, she’s making her mark for them, for freedom, to have their voices heard,” she told.
It’s a challenge Muhammad has accepted. She won’t know whether she’s made the Olympic team until the end of March. Whatever happens, Muhammad knows she has made a difference.
“I think my motto in this whole experience is that sports is something you can do in hijab, and you shouldn’t let your faith compromise how athletically gifted you’ve become. Just like race or gender, religion should not hinder you from achieving your goals,” said Muhammad.
Muhammad would not be drawn on what life for Muslims in the US might look like if Trump is elected to the White House in November.
“I hate to talk about what ifs. I’m hoping we can change direction a little bit and see Muslims in more of a positive light and try to combat the negative imagery that we are shown every day. Can I influence the debate? I don’t know. I’m just trying to do well in Rio," she sad.
(rnz)
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