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

    You can try out Nashata’s toplectic designed for performance to get the seamless look as Kamia

  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

11 Young Egyptian Hijabi Olympians at Rio 2016

As of Day 9, Egypt has bagged 2 bronze medals at Rio 2016.

After 104 years participation at the Olympics, Egypt has its first women to win an Olympic medal. Sara Ahmed, a young and strong 18 years old won the bronze medal for 69 kg category after lifting combined weight of 255 kg.

The Arab Republic of Egypt is a modern Islamic country, with a population of 91.4 mil, 90% of which is Muslim. Their first participation in the Olympics was in 1912, and at Rio 2016, they sent 119 athletes to compete in 22 games. Thirty seven (37) of them are female of which eleven (11) are hijabi or competing in modest attires. These eleven ladies compete in wrestling, taekwondo, shooting, beach volleyball, archery, athletics and weightlifting.

Here are the 11 ladies :

1. Sara Ahmed, Weightlifting

Sara became the first Arab woman to win an Olympic weightlifting medal. She won the third place for women’s 69 kg, recording a combined weight of 255 kg

Sara Ahmed won bronze medal at the Rio 2016

Sara Ahmed, at 18,  won bronze medal at the Rio 2016

2. Doaa Elghobashy, Beach Volleyball

Doaa and partner Nada are in a stereotype game, where participants usually compete in bikinis. They have gotten many heads turned to their sides despite being all-covered.

DOAA ELGHOBASHY

Doaa is only 19. Let’s hope we see her again in Tokyo 2020

3. Nada Meawad, Beach Volleyball

Nada and Doaa played three games in round one to give them exposure of the games. Nada is only 18. They played against the German, Italy and Canada teams at Rio 2016.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 09: Nada Meawad (L) and Doaa Elghobashy of Egypt looks on during the Women's Beach Volleyball Preliminary Pool A match against Marta Menegatti and Viktoria Orsi Toth of Italy on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Beach Volleyball Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 09: Nada Meawad (L) and Doaa Elghobashy of Egypt looks on during the Women’s Beach Volleyball Preliminary Pool A match against Marta Menegatti and Viktoria Orsi Toth of Italy on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Beach Volleyball Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

4. Fatma El Sharnouby, Athletics

Fatma runs the 800 meters at Rio 2016. Her personal best time is 2:18.19 in April 2016. Young at 19, Fatma has a lot of room to learn from great athletes and runners at the Olympics.

Fatma while racing at the World Cross Country Meet, March 2015

Fatma while racing at the World Cross Country Meet, March 2015

5. Shimaa Hashad, Shooting

Shima is not new in the shooting scene. Rio 2016 is her third time partcipating at the Olympics, first in 2004. She competed for women’s 10m air rifle and ranked 27 out of 51 contestants.

Shimaa Hashad is ranked 27 at Rio 2016

Shimaa Hashad, 35,  is ranked 27 at Rio 2016

6. Hadir Mekhimar, Shooting

Young and new in the shooting scene, Hadir is ranked 47 at Rio 2016. She won the gold medal at the Summer Youth Olympics in China at age 16.

Hadir Mekhimar the young Olympian shooter

Hadir Mekhimar the young Olympian shooter

7. Hedaya Wahba, Taekwondo

Second time Olympian at Rio 2016, young Hedaya competes in Taekwondo women’s 57 kg. She qualified for the quarterfinals at the London 2012 for the same category.

Hedaya Wahba, 23 is a taekwondo practitioner

Hedaya Wahba, 23 is a taekwondo practitioner

8. Seham El Sawalhy, Taekwondo

Second time Olympian at Rio 2016, Seham, 25 years old, competed in the 67 kg category at London 2012. This year she competes for the same category.

10 AUG 2012 - LONDON, GBR - Seham el-Sawalhy (EGY) (right) of Egypt battles with Elin Johansson of Sweden during their women's -67kg category preliminary round Taekwondo contest at the London 2012 Olympic Games at Excel in London, Great Britain (PHOTO (C) 2012 NIGEL FARROW)

10 AUG 2012 – LONDON, GBR – Seham el-Sawalhy (EGY) (right) of Egypt battles with Elin Johansson of Sweden during their women’s -67kg category preliminary round Taekwondo contest at the London 2012 Olympic Games at Excel in London, Great Britain
(PHOTO (C) 2012 NIGEL FARROW)

 

9. Shaimaa Haridy, Weightlifting

Shaimaa competes in the Women’s over 75 kg category. In the past, she has won gold medals at the Arab Weightlifting Championships 2015 and 17th Mediterranean Games in 2013, when she lifted 110 kg and 135 kg in snatch and clean & jerk categories respectively.

Young and Strong Shaimaa

Young and Strong Shaimaa

10. Noura Mohamed, Fencing

Noura competes in women’s individual foil at the Olympics for the first time.

Noura Mohamed on the left

Noura Mohamed, 18, on the left lost to Tunisian fencer at Rio 2016

11. Reem Mansour, Archery

Reem is 22 and she competes in the women’s individual archery category for the first time at the Olympics.

Reem lost at round of 64 of the event

Reem lost at round of 64 of the event

Egypt has a good line up of many young promising female athletes participating at  Rio 2016 of which will gain tremendous experience and invaluable insights of doing better for future Olympics.

 

Pictures and Info Source:

  • Wiki
  • http://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/scalefit_970_noupscale/57acc28c1700002c00d1e367.jpeg
  • https://www.tvnz.co.nz/content/dam/images/news/2016/08/08/Rio%20Olympics%20Beach%20Vo_Webf.jpg.hashed.d3c323db.desktop.story.inline.jpg
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  • https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s–eatANuAx–/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/sqybtxjrqbxyiug4im5j.jpg
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  • http://www.hindustantimes.com/rf/image_size_800x600/HT/p2/2016/08/06/Pictures/2016-round-olympics-archery-women-ranking-individual_e89ce3cc-5b45-11e6-92e9-543a978214ab.jpg

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
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9 Hijabi Olympians from Iran @ RIO 2016

Do you know there are more and more hijabi competing at the Olympics? Let’s find out who these amazing ladies from Iran. Iran has the four qualifying female shooters at the Rio 2016 and  an archer who competes at both the Paralympics and the Olympics 2016. Other athletes compete in taekwondo, table tennis, shot put and rowing. Read on to learn more about them.

1. Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin, Taekwondo

She won a gold medal in the women’s 63-kg at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games and she beat London Olympic 2012 gold medalist Jade Jones at the 2015 World Championship.

Kimia Alizadeh

Kimia Alizadeh is 18 years old

2. Leila Rajabi, shot putter

Leila hails from  Belarusian and became an Iranian and converted to Islam after marrying Iranian athlete Peiman Rajabi.

Leila

3. Neda Shahsavari, Table tennis

Rio 2016 is Neda’s second Olympics. She was the first Iranian woman to represent Iran in table tennis at the London Olympics 2012

neda

4. Zahra Nemati, Archer

This amazing lady competed in the Olympics for taekwondo until 2003 when got injured in a car accident, leaving both legs paralyzed. She took up archery in 2006. Now, she competes at both the Rio 201 the 2016 Summer Paralympics. She won two medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, and individual gold and team bronze.

Zahra Nemati Archer

Zahra Nemati Archer

5. Mahsa Javar, Rowing

A rising star in rowing and new in the Olympics, she competes in the women’s single sculls competitions.

mahsa javar

6. Elahe Asmadi, shooting

This is her second debut at the Olympics. She reached final women’s 10 meter air rifle at the London 2012. This year she competes for the same category. In  the November 2015 edition, the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) named  her as the world’s best athlete for the 10-meter air rifle women category.

elaheh as,adi

Elaheh, 32 hails from Tehran

7. Najmeh Khedmati, Shooting

Young and new in the shooting scene, Najmeh competes in women’s 10m air rifle and women’s 50m rifle 3 positions.

najmeh khidmati

Young Najmeh Khidmati gets good support from parents

8. Golnoush Sebghatollahi. Shooting

Golnoush is another young shooter from Iran who qualifies in the women’s 10m air pistol and women’s 25m pistol. Shei won tickets to Rio 2016 2016 at the 2016 Asian Olympic Shooting Qualifying Tournament in India.

Golnoush Sebghatollahi

Golnoush is 25

9. Mahlagha Jambozorg, Shooting

Mahlagha Jambozorg

She qualifies for the the Olympics for the second time after her first debut at the London 2012. At Rio 2016, she competes at the Women’s 50m rifle 3 positions after she won a silver medal at the Olympic Games Training Camp in France in June 2016.

Info Credit : Wikipedia
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/06/14/470412/Iran-sports-shooter-Mahlagha-Jambozorg-silver-Olympic-Games-Training-Camp-France

Photo Credit
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https://worldarchery.org/news/93032/brown-strikes-gold-all-british-womens-compound-final, http://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2016/04/24/1056713/iranian-rower-mahsa-javar-advances-to-olympics, http://www.fisu.net/en/Najmeh-Khidmati-a-Young-Talented-Girl-3133.html?mbID=6562, https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1666/24541605782_b547a21c51_b.jpg