We have come a long way regarding representation and diversity in the sporting arena. But, unfortunately, underrepresentation and bias still lingers. The ones who are commonly affected by this phenomenon are Muslim Women. But, some of these incredible women changed the entire playbook and revolutionized perceptions. Each one of them has marked their names in the hall of fame. Today we’re here to highlight their triumphs and achievements.
These successful sports pioneers are building role models for the younger generations. Girls already face all kinds of challenges such as family socioeconomic status, community resources, and race, particularly at an early age. We know how girls from lower-income families especially girls of colour have limited access and opportunities towards participate in sports. It’s not just Muslim women, women in general have it hard. It took us 128 years to have an equal number of women and men competing in the Olympics.
From wage discrimination to lack of representation of People of Color in some sports, the lack of representation determines how athletes see themselves and how they might perform. Women athletes are compensated based on media revenue, and as you know, women’s sports are not televised as extensively as male sports; thus, they receive a small fraction of the revenue it generates.
It is also important for us to understand that their stories are not just about sports but also about overcoming structural barriers, managing multiple subject positions, and insisting on individual liberties in post-cultural confines. It lacks a positive approach.
A Hijab (a piece of veil that covers the head of a woman) will for instance get more attention than the performance and talent of the woman in the tracksuit – as if a piece of cloth would determine their performance. In recent decades France has pursued a policy of targeting religious acknowledgement especially directed towards Muslim people and the manner they choose to dress especially women. When the world focused on France during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, the exclusion of the hijab for the host nation’s Olympic team reflected negatively on the nation’s attitude. The controversy started even before the opening ceremonies as many news outlets reported that French sprinter Sounkaba Sylla was not allowed to participate due to her decision to wear a hijab.
Before the start of the games, the 26-year-old member of France’s 400-meter women’s and mixed relay teams shared on Instagram, “You are selected for the Olympics, organized in your country, but you can’t participate in the opening ceremony because you wear a headscarf.”
After discussions between the French Athletics Federation, the Ministry of Sports, the Paris Olympics organizers, and the French luxury brand Berluti (which designed the French team uniforms), a compromise was reached. So, what was Sylla allowed to wear in place of the hijab? A cap. The stigma and stereotypes revolving around Muslims and Islam still exist. From an international perspective, these athletes also explain why the mass media’s simplistic portrayals of Muslim women need to be dismantled.
Regardless, there is still nothing stopping these brave women. Here are some phenomenal Muslim Women athletes who broke barriers and rocked the podium.
1. Imane Khelif
Recently Imane Khelif became the subject of controversy over gender in sports after her opponent the Italian Angela Carini withdrew from the fight half a minute into the Paris Olympics bout. Growing up in rural Algeria, Imane Khelif wasn’t your typical teenager. While most people told her boxing wasn’t for girls, she had other plans. Her dad wasn’t exactly thrilled about her boxing dream at first. But Khelif was determined. She gave up soccer and started boxing, and get this – she would travel 10 kilometres each way just to get to her gym. That’s some serious commitment!
Her early boxing days weren’t glamorous. In 2018, she made her first big tournament appearance and lost in the first round. Her first few professional matches? Not great. She lost five out of six bouts. But Khelif wasn’t about to give up. Things started changing. She became one of Algeria’s first women boxers to go to the Tokyo Olympics. Sure, she didn’t win gold, but she won her first Olympic bout and fought against the eventual gold medalist. That’s huge! Her story got even cooler when UNICEF made her a national ambassador. From a small town in Algeria to the Olympic ring and working with UNICEF.
2. Ibtihaj Muhammad
Ibtihaj rose to fame in 2016 when she became the first American athlete to appear in the Rio Olympics wearing a hijab at the same time she was a member of the US’s fencing team. While being a member of the sabre team, Muhammad contributed to earning the bronze medal next to other famous athletes including Mariel Zagunis. The woman was exceptional – she scored an average of 50% by emerging victorious in four out of eight rounds for her team. However, she gave much more than the medal; she symbolized representation and potential for athletes of colour.
Her achievements are truly impressive: A five-time Senior World medalist and a World Champion, Muhammad didn’t just perform, she triumphed. She also serves as a sports ambassador for the United States Department of State with the main focus on championing the cause of women and girls. In 2017, Barbie released a doll modelled after her, a hijabi Barbie, as part of its “Shero” line.
3. Hassiba Boulmerka
Boulmerka started racing in the early 1990s, she was not only running in competitions – in fact, she was fighting much more than that. She would dedicate herself to sports in a society that wasn’t liberal at all; doing so was considered an act of rebellion. She was harassed by people who called her names, threatened her, and even accused her of being unfaithful to her religion — only because she wanted to run.
The pressure was so intense that she had to make an incredibly tough choice: she had to simply leave her family in order to continue training. How do you even fathom how difficult that must have been? Quitting your family support to do something you love? However, she did not stop. She bagged the gold at the 1991 World Championships for the 1500-meter race. Then in 1992, she won an Olympic gold in Barcelona too. It was not just running; she was making history. Now, she is a beloved role model for women of Algeria and throughout the Arab world.
4. Ruqaya Al-Ghasra
Nest is Ruqaya Al Ghasra, the Bahraini sprinter. Ghasra defied the objections of fundamentalists in her village to pursue her passion for running. She raced while wearing a headscarf and full-body covering. In 2004 Ghasra became the first female runner from Bahrain to feature in the Summer Olympics in Athens.
She is also the first woman ever in the record books to wear a hijab while competing in an Olympic race. During the 2008 Beijing Games Ghasra was privileged to be the Bahraini flag bearer during the opening ceremonies. In addition to her Olympic success, she received the Sportswoman of the Year title at the Middle East Businesswomen and Leaders Achievement Awards in 2011 and multiple medals at the Asian Indoor and the Arabian Championship.
5. Ghada Shouaa
Meet Ghada Shouaa – the first and only Syrian woman who can be proud of becoming an Olympic champion. In 1996, at the games held in the city of Atlanta, she won the heptathlon competition and claimed the prize of gold after pulling off a seven-section competition that lapses the talent of each athlete in every way possible.
However, she did not get dancing joyously in her victory. Instead of that, she was taken to the Syrian court, her funding was stopped, and she found herself in a financially embarrassing situation. The pressure had mounted to such an extreme level that she was compelled to flee her own country.
Their stories have one thing in common. i.e. They made it to the finish. It was not very easy for some of these women, but instead, they struggled, struggled against all odds, struggled and triumphed. They inspire us to great extents. They aimed high and went into that arena fearing nothing and full trust in God.
We also play a part in their journey. Supporting your local talent, keeping up with their games and advocating for them will do wonders. I recently attended the ICC Women’s Tournament, there weren’t a lot of attendees. But whoever showed up to their cricket matches, their support must mean the world to those playing on the field. This is how we keep their morale up.
Through actively chasing their dreams they are making positive examples of powerful images that prove that one’s dreams are not limited by ethnic or gender boundaries. They are building bridges where none existed before, inspiring other young Muslim women to build and work towards unorthodox careers. We must have their backs and support them no matter what.
Which of these athletic Muslim women did you find inspiring? What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments down below.
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