LOS ANGELES – Ibtihaj Muhammad hopes her history-making appearance at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics will help change attitudes towards Muslims in the United States when she becomes the first American athlete to compete wearing a hijab.
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.
She has been confronted with discrimination ever since childhood, when her skin color and hijab would often provoke lingering stares or abuse.
Muhammad hopes that her participation in the Olympics may play a small role in shifting those kinds of attitudes.
“It’s a tough political environment that we’re in right now, it’s not easy,” Muhammad told reporters on Wednesday at the US Olympic team media summit.
“Muslims are under the microscope and I’m hoping to change the image that people may have of Muslim women.
Muhammad’s athletic achievements have given her a national profile. She recently met President Barack Obama during his first visit to a US mosque, with the US leader joking he expected her to bring back a gold medal. Obama’s endorsement did not leave Muhammad feeling under additional pressure to deliver in Rio.
“No not at all, I don’t feel any pressure,” she said.
“I feel so fulfilled and blessed to be in this position to represent Team USA.”

Source: AFP, 10 March 2016