The United States has witnessed its fair share of sabre rattling this week, which has been noteworthy for the brave if somewhat perma-tanned face a certain Donald J Trump put on after a deflating showing at the Iowa caucus.
Trump has gathered a surprising amount of support since he outrageously suggested all Muslims should be banned from entering the US until “we” – presumably a we that excludes American Muslims – “find out what’s going on”.
Well one such American Muslim, having earned a bronze medal in the Athens World Cup on Saturday wielding her own sabre, has amassed enough points to secure a spot on the 2016 USA Olympic fencing team.
The announcement of the official roster will not come until April 11, but 30-year-old Ibtihaj Muhammad, who chose to take up fencing at 13 mainly because she could participate whilst still adhering to the modest Muslim dress code, will almost certainly become the first US athlete to compete in the Olympics wearing a hijab.
In her journey to obtaining a spot on the US team, New Jersey-born Ibtihaj was a dominant force in the fencing circuit, claiming a silver medal at a World Cup event in 2013 and seven team World Cup medals while being part of a team that took home the gold in the 2014 World Championships.
An owner of her own clothing line called Louella, geared towards women who choose to dress conservatively, Ibtihaj is no stranger to success. While attending Duke University where she graduated with degrees in International Relations and African-American studies, she was a three-time All-American. This is truly an inspiring story, since this phenomenal athlete almost joined the team for the 2012 Olympics before being forced to withdraw due to her tearing a ligament in her hand.
In an interview last year, Ibtihaj spoke of being a role model for Muslim Americans. “People are just appreciative that there is someone that they can show their kids. It’s OK for you to wear hijab and participate in sport,” she said.
