Ibtihaj Muhammad facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ibtihaj Muhammad
Born	(1985-12-04) December 4, 1985 (age 39) Maplewood, New Jersey, US
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	68 kg (150 lb)
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Fencing
Weapon	Sabre
Hand	Right
Years on national team	8
National coach	Ed Korfanty
Club	Peter Westbrook Foundation
FIE ranking	Current ranking
Medal record Olympic Games Bronze 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team World Championships Gold 2014 Kazan Team Bronze 2011 Catania Team Bronze 2012 Kyiv Team Bronze 2013 Budapest Team Bronze 2015 Moscow Team

Ibtihaj Muhammad (born December 4, 1985) is an American sabre fencer, author, and businesswoman. She made history at the 2016 Summer Olympics by becoming the first American woman to compete in the Olympics while wearing a hijab. She was also the first Muslim-American woman to win an Olympic medal. In addition, she was the first Black woman to win an Olympic medal in the sabre fencing event. She earned a bronze medal in the women's team sabre event.

Muhammad has won many medals at the World Fencing Championships. She won gold with the United States women's sabre team in 2014. She was named one of Time 100 magazine's Most Influential People in the World in 2016. She also works as a sports ambassador for the United States Department of State. She is a successful author with books on the New York Times Best-seller list.

Early Life and Education

Ibtihaj Muhammad was born on December 4, 1985, in New Jersey. She grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey. She has two older siblings, Brandilyn and Qareeb, and two younger siblings, Asiya and Faizah. Her parents are African American.

Muhammad started fencing when she was 13 years old. She learned the sport at Columbia High School (New Jersey). In 2002, she joined the Peter Westbrook Foundation in New York City. This foundation helps young people learn fencing.

After finishing high school in 2003, Muhammad went to Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. She was a very good fencer there, earning "All-American" honors three times. She graduated in 2007 with two majors: International Relations and African & African-American Studies.

Fencing Career Highlights

Muhammad in 2014

In 2010, Muhammad joined the United States National Fencing Team. She was the first woman of color to be on the women's sabre team. She was a key member of this team from 2010 to 2017.

She has won the National Champion title twice (in 2009 and 2017). She has also won 19 World Cup medals. At one point, she was ranked as high as No. 7 in the world. She has won five Senior World Championship medals (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015). In 2014, she won a gold medal with the United States sabre team at the 2014 Fencing World Championships.

2016 Summer Olympics Success

The 2016 Summer Olympics were a very important moment for Ibtihaj Muhammad. She became the first American woman to compete in the Olympics while wearing a hijab. This was a big step for representation in sports.

She also became the first Muslim-American woman to win an Olympic medal. And she was the first Black woman to win an Olympic medal in the sabre event. Her team won the bronze medal in the women's saber team event. They beat Italy with a score of 45–30 in the bronze medal match.

Because she wore her hijab, Muhammad became a powerful symbol. The Guardian newspaper said in 2016 that she was "one of the best symbols against intolerance America can ever have."

Other Activities and Achievements

Ibtihaj Muhammad is not just an athlete. She is also a successful entrepreneur and advocate.

In 2014, she and her siblings started a clothing company called Louella by Ibtihaj. Their goal was to offer stylish, modest clothing in the United States.

Muhammad also serves as a sports ambassador. She works with the U.S. Department of State on their "Empowering Women and Girls Through Sport Initiative." Through this role, she has traveled to many countries. She talks about how important sports and education are for young people. In 2019, she was also named a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics.

In 2017, the toy company Mattel honored Muhammad. They created a Barbie doll in her likeness. This Barbie was special because it was the first one to wear a hijab and be a fencer. Mattel called her a "Shero," meaning a female hero who inspires others.

Books by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Ibtihaj Muhammad is also a published author.

• In 2018, she released her first book, a memoir called PROUD: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream. This book tells her life story.
• She has also written a series of popular children's books.
  • The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab & Family was published in 2019 and became a New York Times Best-seller.
  • The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship came out in 2023.
  • The Boldest White: A Story of Hijab & Community was released in 2024.
• Her children's books have been recognized with awards. The Proudest Blue was a finalist for the Forest of Reading's Blue Spruce Award in 2021. The Kindest Red was also a finalist for the same award in 2024.

• Muhammad, Ibtihaj. (2018) Proud: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream. New York: Hachette Books. ISBN: 9780316518963
• Muhammad, Ibtihaj. (2018) (Young Readers Edition) Proud: Living My American Dream. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN: 9780316477000
• Muhammad, Ibtihaj. (2018) The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN: 9780316519007
• Muhammad, Ibtihaj. (2023) The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN: 9780759555709
• Muhammad, Ibtihaj. (2024) The Boldest White: A Story of Hijab and Community. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN: 9780759555716

See also

In Spanish: Ibtihaj Muhammad para niños

• Muslim women in sport
• List of USFA Division I National Champions