Wonder Woman of the Week: Ibtihaj Muhammad

This week’s spotlight is another fencer who inspires girls across her nation and across the world. She’s an world champion, a business owner, and is the first Muslim American to represent her country in international fencing. Ibtihaj Muhammad is the Wonder Woman of the Week.

For those who don’t know much about the sport of fencing (Shame on you!) competitors must cover their entire body in protective gear to prevent injuries. Even for cultures with rules regarding modest dress for women, fencing is an ideal sport. When New Jersey born Ibtihaj Muhammad saw people fencing, the thirteen year old Muslim girl found the sport for her. Muhammad’s mother thought the sport would be great for her daughter because it would allow her to compete while maintaining her culture’s dress code. [1]

In 2005, the saber fencer won gold at the Junior Olympics. In 2009, Ibtihaj Muhammad won silver in the team event of the National Championships and gold in the individual event. In 2010, she took fourth in the team World Championships and gold in the team Pan-American Games. As of 2015, Muhammad was ranked 11th in the world and third in the US. [1]

The list continues for Ibtihaj Muhammad’s career highlights. In 2012 and 2013, she placed third in the World Championships for the team saber competition. Muhammad won the gold in the 2013 Pan-American Games. In 2014, she placed second in the team Korfranty World Cup, first in the team Antalya World Cup, and first in the team World Championships. If all of that was not impressive, Muhammad is looking at representing the United States in the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Olympic prospect’s goal for the tournament is to be the first American to compete while wearing a hijab. [2]

Ibtihaj Muhammad’s career achievements go beyond her sport. While a student at Duke University, Muhammad found a lack in affordable and fashionable clothing for modest Muslim women. In 2014, Ibtihaj and her siblings launched a line of chic clothing for Muslim girls called Louella. Louella’s fashion is for more than Muslim women however. The beautiful tunics, dresses, and cardigans are all American made and are almost all reasonably priced. Women across the country have been buying items within hours of posting and by the end of the company’s first year, it made almost $250,000 in sales. [3]

The business has helped the athlete consider her life after fencing. “I see a lot of athletes leave the sport and struggle to find work,” says Ibtihaj Muhammad. “not just necessarily finding word but a career, something that they love.” Even outside of fencing, very few people can make a career out of sports. Muhammad has developed a career outside of her sport that she can take pride in and maintain an enjoyable career. [4]

When Ibtihaj Muhammad began fencing at thirteen, she would have never known how far her sport would take her. Muhammad is now a name known around the world in the sport. She’ll be an athlete to keep an eye out for in the Olympics and well as other international tournaments. In the sport alone, she’s a role model for young women in the United States and abroad that girls can be household names in sports. Her story goes beyond sports though. Muhammad is a successful business woman who designs clothes for modest girls and women, showing that even Muslim girls can have a place in American culture. Her goal to represent the United States as the first American to wear the hijab in Olympic competition would prove Muslim Americans women can even compete in international sports.

“Ibtihaj Muhhamad.” 2015. USA Fencing. Accessed 30 September 2015. http://www.usfencing.org/page/show/700219-ibtihaj-muhammad

“Ibtihaj Muhammad.” 2015. TeamUSA. Accessed 30 September 2015. http://www.teamusa.org/Athletes/MU/Ibtihaj-Muhammad.aspx

Berg, Aimee. “For This Olympic Hopeful, The Road to Rio is Paved with Fencing and Fashion.” 16 July 2015. ESPNW. Accessed 30 September 2015. http://espn.go.com/espnw/athletes-life/article/13263124/for-olympic-hopeful-road-rio-paved-fencing-fashion

Scott, Roxanna. “Ibtihaj Muhammad mixes business with fencing fame.” 22 April 2015. USA Today. Accessed 30 September 2015. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2015/04/22/ibtihaj-muhammad-us-fencing-inspiring-muslim-american-athletes/26152323/