Ibtihaj Muhammad to be first U.S. Olympian to compete in a hijab

Fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad is poised to become the the first Muslim American to compete at the Summer Games in a hijab at the upcoming Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August, U.S. fencing announced.

Fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad is poised to become the the first Muslim American to compete at the Summer Games in a hijab at the upcoming Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August, USA Fencing announced.

The final U.S. Olympic fencing roster will be announced on April 11. Muhammad and Mariel Zagunis qualified for the Summer Games by earning points at a competition in Athens, Greece over the weekend. Zagunis, the 2012 U.S. Olympic flag bearer, won gold in the individual sabre event at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

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Muhammad will be participating in her first Olympics, just one year after reaching the round of 16 at the 2015 World Championships.

In addition to training for the Olympics, Muhammad, 30, runs a fashion business geared towards Muslim women.

- Christopher Chavez