Shifting focus away from hijab to athleticism

More than 11,500 athletes competed in the just-ended Rio 2016 Olympics, almost half of them women.

Besides, Rio 2016 made history as the venue in which many impressive feats were showcased by Muslim female Olympians.

However, what comes across your mind when you think of a female Muslim athlete? Is it the gruelling hours she puts in perfecting her skills? Is it her triumphant look? Is it the people who look up to her as a role model? Or is it the hijab she wears?

Despite the fact that there are many Muslim women who share their stories on public spaces, this intimate piece of clothing has become misrepresented and misunderstood amidst the rise of Islamophobia.

This has caused hijab-wearing Muslim women to be wrongfully typecast as being meek, oppressed and limited.
Muslim women have been participating in a variety of sports around the globe. The increase in visibility is due to the fact that many sports organisations are lifting bans on the use of headscarves.

“Many Muslim women are excluded or discouraged from taking up sports owing to their desire to maintain stricter standards of modesty than sports clothes allow,” said Emma Tarlo of the Department of Anthropology at Goldsmiths, University of London.

“And Muslims are not alone. A number of women from Hindu, Sikh, and orthodox Jewish backgrounds, as well as people with weight issues, are put off swimming by the skimpiness of most existing styles of swimwear,” she added.

Defying stereotypes

It was not until 2012 that the International Olympic Committee members conceded to the demands of hijab-wearing athletes.

Four years have passed since the ban was lifted, but the media seems to be more concerned with what these Muslim women chose to wear instead of recognising and appreciating their athletic valour. Like any other athletes, Muslim female display the same level of diligence, determination and dedication in their sports. Not only are they competing in various sporting events, but they are also doing extremely well in their chosen sports.

Sara Ahmed, an 18-year-old, has an impressive collection of victories, including the African Games and Junior World Championships, despite only being in the sports for only six years.

Her success in the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games was a memorable one, but it was Rio 2016 that left her in tears as the judges confirmed her podium finish.

She became the first Egyptian female Olympian to have medalled in weightlifting in Egypt’s 104-year participation in the Olympics.

She hoped that her win will “encourage other girls to take up the sport” and that it will be a new beginning for the sport in Egypt. No one exemplifies determination better than archer Zahra Nemati.

A 2003 car accident left her paraplegic, but it didn’t deter her from realising her dream to represent Iran at the Olympics. In the 2012 London Summer Paralympics, Zahra became the first Iranian woman to medalled gold.

She gave a great performance in Rio 2016 but she was unable to overcome her opponent. While she was tearful, she will represent Iran again in the 2016 Summer Paralympics determined to not let her disability defeat her.

Ibtihaj Muhammad is the media’s sweetheart in Rio 2016 because of her approachability. Her friendly smile downplays her fierceness in the arena.

She has been part of the US National Fencing Team since 2010 and is ranked eight in the world.

The focus on her hijab can be tiresome but she takes this opportunity to “change the perception of Muslim women” and inspire young athletes to chase their dream and “to not let other people dictate their journey for them”.

Balancing religion and sports

The hijab is not the utmost important aspect of being a Muslim woman, but it is certainly the most visible. While there is no religious constraint for Muslim women to participate in any sports, the lack of appropriate sportswear has hindered their participation in sports.

However, this is slowly changing as more designers and retailers are focusing on filling this Muslim sportswear gap.

Designers like Cindy van den Bremen and Triad Resources are coming up with headscarves that Muslim women can wear while playing sports.

They are non-restrictive and comfortable to wear because unlike the traditional hijab, these headscarves are made with the latest sportswear technology. Retailers like Modanisa are also expanding their Muslim sportswear offering to include various sports.

Although Muslim sportswear have been in the market for many years, it is rarely talked about—that is until the debut of many hijab-wearing Muslim athletes in Rio 2016. It is hoped that the awe-inspiring Olympians continue to break invisible barrier, inspire change and become positive role models in the field of sports.

Sarah is a hijabista and fashion consultant at Modanisa