Biography
Early Life
Ibtihaj Muhammad was born on December 4, 1985, in Maplewood, New Jersey. Her parents are Eugene Muhammad and Denise Garner. She grew up in a large family with five siblings.
Muhammad began fencing through the Peter Westbrook Foundation when she was 13 years old. This is a sports program for inner-city kids. Peter Westbrook, a former Olympic fencing champion, started it.
Muhammad chose fencing because the sport uses full-body uniforms. This allowed her to compete while wearing her hijab without standing out. This was important to her as a Muslim girl who wanted to balance her faith with athletics.
She quickly became known for her skill and her passion for fairness and representation. She wanted to make space in sports for girls who wear hijabs. This also made space for others who are often left out.
Muhammad graduated from Columbia High School in 2004. She earned a scholarship to Duke University. She competed on the college level. She earned three All-American honors. Muhammad majored in International Relations and African Studies. She also minored in Arabic.
A Journey of Perseverance
Muhammad had trouble finding a corporate job after graduating in 2007. She worked as a Dollar Store clerk while figuring out her next steps. A former coach from high school encouraged her to return to fencing and train at a higher level.
She became a substitute teacher in Newark to support herself. She worked during the day and paid for fencing lessons in the evening. Her dedication paid off. She was ranked 113th in fencing in the 2007–2008 season. She made the U.S. National Fencing Team in 2010. This qualified her as an official professional athlete.
She competed in the Senior World Championships in 2014. She won a team gold medal with Team USA. She earned four bronze medals in other international events.
Olympic Success and Facing Challenges
Muhammad made history in 2016 when she qualified for the U.S. Olympic team. She won a bronze medal in team sabre fencing. She also placed 12th in the individual competition.
Her path wasn’t easy. She often felt left out by her teammates. She said that she was sometimes excluded because of her race and religion. In an interview with Bustle, Muhammad said, “There was a lot of pushback in my career . . . I didn’t allow [it] to dictate my journey.” Her words reflect the strength she used to keep moving forward.
At her peak, Muhammad was ranked No. 2 in the United States and No. 7 in the world.
Honors and Activism
Time Magazine named Muhammad as one of the world’s 100 Most Influential People in 2016. The first Hijabi Barbie™ was modeled after her as part of the Barbie “Shero” series. In 2018, Muhammad published her memoir in which she shared her journey and the challenges she faced. In 2019, she wrote a bestselling children’s book about a young girl’s first day wearing a hijab. President Obama appointed her to the President’s Council on Fitness. She serves as a Sports Ambassador for the U.S. State Department.
Muhammad’s story continues to inspire young people around the world who are breaking barriers and following their dreams.
