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Home • News

Ibtihaj Muhammad Makes History As The First Woman to Compete and Place for Team USA Wearing a Hijab

The New Jersey native won the bronze medal in women's sabre fencing on Saturday.
Ibtihaj Muhammad Becomes First Woman to Compete and Place for Team USA Wearing a Hijab
Tom Pennington/Getty Images
By Toni Akindele · Updated October 27, 2020
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New Jersey native, Ibtihaj Muhammad, made history as the first woman to compete and place for Team USA wearing a hijab. The 30-year-old won the bronze medal in women’s sabre fencing on Saturday.

.@USAFencing is taking home a FOURTH Olympic medal!

CONGRATS to our women's saber #fencing team on winning #BRONZE! pic.twitter.com/fDCNhkqRxp

— U.S. Olympic Team (@TeamUSA) August 13, 2016

“I realize that this moment is bigger than me,” said Muhammad to Team USA after first qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Team. “Anyone who has paid attention to the news at all would realize the importance of having a Muslim woman on Team USA. It’s not just any team, it’s the United States of America. It’s just been a really remarkable experience for me.”

Congratulations, Ibtihaj!