Maplewood's Ibtihaj Muhammad Makes Olympic History: 1st To Wear Hijab

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Essex County’s own Olympic fencing maven may have been defeated in her bid for a Women's Individual Saber medal on Monday, but Ibtihaj Muhammad will still have a shot to help the U.S. Women's Saber Team capture the gold when it competes on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro.

Muhammad – a practicing Muslim who became the first Olympian to compete in a hijab – defeated the Ukraine’s Olena Kravatska to advance from the first round, but lost to France’s Cecilia Berder in round two.

However, the Maplewood resident has already left her mark in the arenas of sports and politics.

In April, Muhammad – an observant Muslim - was named as one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” for 2016 after she announced that she’d be the first American Olympian to compete wearing a hijab.

• See related article: Maplewood Fencer, Muslim Named To Time's '100 Most Influential' List

“I think my motto is that sports is something you can do in hijab, and you shouldn’t let your faith compromise how athletically gifted you become,” the future Olympian told Patch in 2011.“Just like race or gender, religion should not hinder you from achieving your goals.”

• See related article: In Fencer’s Hijab...Struggle and Inspiration
• See related article: Maplewood Muslim Fencer Asked To Remove Hijab For ID Photo: South By Southwest

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