9 Inspirational Hijabi Olympians who Stand Tall In Victory & Defeat

Did you know there are 33 Olympians in hijab at Rio 2016? The Hijabi Olympians at Rio 2016 made a few headlines; from winning medals to finishing last. These ladies competed with positive attitude regardless. Many ages below 25, from track and field, to fencing, shooting, archery and weightlifting these young and strong ladies have much to be proud of – representing Muslim women who choose to compete in hijab and modestly.

Here are the 9 inspirational hijabi Olympians at Rio 2016 other than the 24 sisters mainly from Egypt, Saudi and Iran:

  1. Ibtihaj Muhammad, USA, Fencing

    Ibtihaj-Muhammad-Team-USA

    Strong and Determined Ibtihaj

    She did many of us proud. Known as the first hijab-wearing muslim American who compete at the Olympics at London 2012, this time at Rio 2016, she won the bronze medal  in the Team Sabre, together with 3 other female fencers. Hailed from New Jersey, Ibtihaj is apart of the United States National Fencing Team since 2010.

  2. Kamia Yousufi, Afghanistan, Athletic Women’s 100m

    Born in Iran, Kamia, 20 competed in the 100 meters at Rio 2016 with a ranking of 22, 14.02 second. Kamia and  Kariman Abuljadayel from Saudi are the two sprinters competed on the track in modest attire, covered with hijab. She definitely got the opportunity to learn from the best and hopefully they will come back to the Olympics in Japan in 2020 for better rank.

    105593003KamiaYousufiNEWS-large_trans++qVzuuqpFlyLIwiB6NTmJwfSVWeZ_vEN7c6bHu2jJnT8

    Kamia Yousofi, upon finishing the 100 meter sprint at Rio 2016

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  3. Maryan Nuh Muse, Somalia, Athletic Women’s 400m

    After two decades of civil war, Somalia sent two athletes to Rio 2016. Mayran is one of them. She ran the 400 meters and finished last but she remained calm. After all, it is a new beginning for Somalian athletes.

    Confident and Inspirational Maryan

    Confident and Inspirational Maryan

  4. Salwa Eid Naser from Bahrain, Athletic Women’s 400m
    Although she didn’t win any medal at the Rio 2016, Salwa Eid Naser, 18, is the athlete we must watch. She completed running the semifinals 3rd placing at 51.06s. Prior to the Olympic, she won the gold medal at the World Youth Championships in Athletics in 2015

    Salwa clocked 50.88s at Rio 2016 400 meters

    Salwa clocked personal best time 50.88s at Rio 2016 400 meters

  5. Ayesha al Balooshi, United Arab Emirates, Weightlifting

    She competed with 15 other strong ladies category 58 kg weightlifting at Rio and ranked last. It is still a good performance as she did her personal best lifting 162kg.

    20160727-a

    Lifted 162 kg at Rio 2016

  6. Samira Ouass, Morocco, Weight Lifting

    She competed in Women’s 75 kg category and completed rank 7
    Samira Ouass

  7. Shehzana Anwar, Kenya, Archery

    She started archery in 2002 when she was 12 years old. At Rio 2016, she ranks 62 out of 65 other archers.

    shehzana

    Keep aiming for a good win!

  8. Minhal Sohail, Pakistan, Shooting

    21 years old Minhal got to compete at Rio 2016 for 10 meter air rifle. She is the first female shooter to represent Pakistan at the Olympics. At Rio 2016, she ranked 28 out of 51 contestants.

    Pakistan's Minhal Sohail competes in the women's 10m air rifle shooting qualifications at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Shooting Centre in Rio de Janeiro on August 6, 2016. / AFP / Pascal GUYOT (Photo credit should read PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/Getty Images)

    Pakistan’s Minhal Sohail competes in the women’s 10m air rifle shooting qualifications at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Shooting Centre in Rio de Janeiro on August 6, 2016. / AFP / Pascal GUYOT (Photo credit should read PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/Getty Images)

  9. Wadha Al Balushi, Oman, Shooting

    She competed in air pistol 10 meter at Rio 2016 and ranked 26 out of 44 shooters. She is one of the four Olympians representing Oman at Rio 2016. 
    wadha

Do expect them to compete back strong at  the next Olympics. Be inspired and stand tall in victory or defeat, like these strong ladies.

Sources:

  • http://cdn.muslimmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/Ibtihaj-Muhammad-Team-USA.jpg
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2016/08/12/105593003KamiaYousufiNEWS-large_trans++qVzuuqpFlyLIwiB6NTmJwfSVWeZ_vEN7c6bHu2jJnT8.jpg
  • http://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/styles/story_large/public/thumbnails/image/2016/08/14/09/maryan-nuh-muse.jpg
  • http://www.gulfweekly.com/source/15_31/images/salwa.jpg
  • https://cdn.stepfeed.com/uploads/2016/07/28004430/20160727-a.png
  • https://ssl.gstatic.com/onebox/media/olympics/photos/o16/live/RIOEC881L6OR3_768x432.JPG
  • http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/pakistans-minhal-sohail-competes-in-the-womens-10m-air-rifle-shooting-picture-id586403460?k=6&m=586403460&s=594×594&w=0&h=yDF__gUcx69R4nUv9JH70gOoqBezbHOvRItfydy9Qnk=
  • http://timesofoman.com/uploads/images/2016/08/07/469263.jpeg

Undeterred Competitive Spirit of Saudi Female Athletes

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia started sending female athlete to the Olympics in 2012. Sarah Attar and Wojdan Shaherkani were the first two Saudi citizens to compete at London 2012. Wojdan competed in Judo while Sarah, the 800 meters. Saudi doubled the number of female participants to four at Rio 2016. Wojdan does not compete in 2016, but Sarah and three new faces represent the ladies of the Saudi.

Sarah Attar, MARATHON athletics

Saudi Arabia's Sarah Attar competes in the women's 800m heats at the athletics event of the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 8, 2012 in London. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/GettyImages)

Saudi Arabia’s Sarah Attar competes in the women’s 800m heats at the athletics event of the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 8, 2012 in London. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/GettyImages)

Sarah, 24 made her first appearance at the Olympic London 2012 where she competed for 800 meters without meeting Olympic time. At Rio 2016, she will compete for the marathon despite 26 minutes slower than qualifying Olympic time. Her personal best time was 3:11:27 at the Chicago Marathon in 2015. She holds dual citizenship, the United States of America and Saudi Arabia.

Kariman Abuljadayel, 100 m athletics

Kariman, 22 is ranked 23 at Rio 2016 for the 100 meters and is the first Saudi woman to compete in the 100 meters. She clocked 14.61s at Rio 2016.

KARIMAN ABULJADAYEL

KARIMAN ABULJADAYEL at the Qualifying Heats 100 meters Rio 2016

Lubna Al-Omair, Fencing

Being the first is not always easy. Lubna’s match lasted 1 minute and 44 seconds. May she has more matches in the future, so that she could sharpen competitive skills.

Lubna - the exquisite fencer

Lubna – the exquisite fencer

Joud Fahmy, Judo (withdraw due to injury)

Joud, 26, did not compete due to injuries. She was determined to represent her country at the Olympics and started to train for the Rio 2016 at Santa Monica when she was 22 in 2012.

Joud_Fahmy Judo

Joud Fahmy Judo

These amazing ladies find different ways to train for the Olympics. Their determination to compete and represent their country is evident despite challenges faced at many fronts.

 

Source & Picture credits:

  • Wikipedia
  • http://i.huffpost.com/gen/2549892/images/o-SARAH-ATTAR-facebook.jpg
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/olympics/2016/08/12/105580636-Kariman-Abuljadayel-SPORT-xlarge_trans++rbV8E1vvGHaBNJhAQrBCaeU-5NBdMS2kWAh6ufw2hAE.jpg
  • http://sports.yahoo.com/news/column-saudi-butterfly-crushed-olympic-debut-rio-062557043–spt.html
  • http://saudigazette.com.sa/sports/rio-olympics-2016/saudi-fencer-in-rio/
  • http://smdp.com/olympic-athletes-with-santa-monica-ties-convene-in-rio-for-2016-games/156552