Name: U.S. Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad on getting Muslim girls into sport
Uploaded: 2025-11-15T08:07:28.526Z
Duration: 4 min 38 s
Description: US Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad tells Euronews Culture about her journey and insights on confidence, leadership, and empowerment with young girls in Doha through Qatar Foundation’s Creating Pathways programme.

US Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad tells Euronews Culture about her journey and insights on confidence, leadership, and empowerment with young girls in Doha through Qatar Foundation’s Creating Pathways programme.

Doha

Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad, known for being the first American Muslim woman to compete in the Olympics wearing a hijab, is collaborating with Qatar Foundation's Creating Pathways program in Doha. Her efforts focus on introducing fencing to young girls, emphasizing the sport's compatibility with Muslim values and its role in fostering confidence and self-determination.

Muhammad highlights the importance of investing in girls' sports and building an ecosystem that includes athletes, coaches, and leaders. She stresses that success is not only about winning medals but also about inspiring girls to be brave, try new things, and believe in their potential within sports and beyond.

U.S. Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad on getting Muslim girls into sport

Olympic medalist and trailblazer Ibtihaj Mohammed made history as the first American Muslim woman to wear a hijab in Olympic competition. Now in Doha with Qatar Foundation, she's helping young girls find confidence and purpose through fencing. I sat down with her to talk about that journey. Ibtihaj, you're teaming up with Qatar Foundation's Creating Pathways program. What excites you the most about introducing fencing to young girls in Qatar? I've grown up fencing my entire life and I love what sport teaches you. And I'm excited for Qatari girls to be introduced to the sport of fencing because it's so uniquely accommodating to our faith as Muslims in terms of the modest dress. But fencing in particular is a special sport because you incorporate speed, athleticism, agility with tough mental focus and strategy that you may not get in other sports. You said your faith gave you strength throughout your career. How do you hope your story inspires Muslim girls who may be hesitant to play sports? Throughout my own journey, I faced a lot of obstacles as a kid who had brown skin in a predominantly white sport and a very visible Muslim wearing hijab. And I love that sport gave me the opportunity to be myself and to discover this power that I had deep down inside that I had to find. I feel like it's something that the girls can also discover for themselves. They're facing a lot of obstacles, some internal where you have to discover this confidence and self-determination. And it's one of those things like once you unlock, the sky's the limit. And I believe that sport helps kind of expedite that process for the younger generation. So now you're here in Doha, what role do you think Qatar and the Middle East can play in shaping the future of women's sports globally? I think it sets a very high precedent that Qatar is investing in its girls. They're investing in the future and the future is female. And we want to support and uplift and kind of mold the next generation to be leaders. And I think that sport is such a powerful tool and a powerful vehicle for change. Qatar Foundation is working not just to create athletes, but an entire ecosystem around women's sports from coaches to leaders. What's the key to keeping this momentum going? Qatar Foundation is doing such a great job of piggybacking on all these amazing sporting events that are taking place in Qatar. Qatar is leading the region in hosting so many different events from a range of sports. And that momentum is in our favor, especially post-World Cup. When we think about our youth and their next stages and how they view sport, not everyone's going to the Olympics. Not everyone's competing professionally, but there's so many different lanes within sport, whether it be coaching or officiating or just being involved in sports from a local or youth level that are essential parts of continuing this tradition of elevating sports, especially girls and their involvement in sports to empower the next generation. From Olympic medalist to mentor, how has your idea of success changed now that you're seeing young girls carrying the same saber that changed your life? I'm a competitor down to my core and I've always loved winning. And I like the thrill of being successful. And so I've just kind of redefined what success looks like. It's not always, you know, the trophy or the podium finish. It can be, you know, seeing these young girls be inspired and be inspired to try something new, to find confidence in being afraid. You know, may feel like they're going to be judged for trying a sport for the first time. And I just want them to be brave and to take up space where traditionally, you know, there wasn't space for women. There wasn't space for Muslim girls who wear hijab. And I just want them to know that they are deserving of every opportunity, especially in sport. And if they're willing to work hard, they can fulfill their dreams.

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