Don't fence me in: US Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad on getting Muslim girls into sport

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Don't fence me in: US Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad on getting Muslim girls into sport  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.     READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/11/15/dont-fence-me-in-us-olympian-ibtihaj-muhammad-on-getting-muslim-girls-into-sport  Spark your senses, wake your wonder. Euronews Culture seeks to show creativity in action and inspire our audience to explore the world through the five senses. Start your journey through the best of Europe's arts, gastronomy, traditions and high-end craftsmanship.

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00:01Olympic medalist and trailblazer Ibtihaj Mohammed made history as the first American

00:06Muslim woman to wear a hijab in Olympic competition.

00:09Now in Doha with Qatar Foundation, she's helping young girls find confidence and purpose through

00:15fencing.

00:16I sat down with her to talk about that journey.

00:20Ibtihaj, you're teaming up with Qatar Foundation's Creating Pathways program.

00:28What excites you the most about introducing fencing to young girls in Qatar?

00:32I've grown up fencing my entire life and I love what sport teaches you and I'm excited

00:41for Qatari girls to be introduced to the sport of fencing because it's so uniquely accommodating

00:47to our faith as Muslims in terms of the modest dress but fencing in particular is a special

00:53sport because you incorporate speed, athleticism, agility with tough mental focus and strategy

01:03that you may not get in other sports.

01:05You said your faith gave you strength throughout your career.

01:07How do you hope your story inspires Muslim girls who may be hesitant to play sports?

01:12Throughout my own journey, I faced a lot of obstacles.

01:15As a kid who had brown skin in a predominantly white sport and a very visible, you know, Muslim

01:22wearing hijab.

01:24And I love that sport gave me the opportunity to like be myself and to discover this power

01:31that I had, you know, deep down inside that I had to find.

01:35I feel like it's something that the girls can also discover for themselves.

01:38You know, they're facing a lot of obstacles, you know, some internal where you have to discover

01:45this, this confidence and, you know, self-determination.

01:48And it's one of those things like once you unlock, you know, the sky's the limit.

01:53And I believe that sport helps kind of expedite that process for the younger generation.

02:00So now you're here in Doha.

02:01What role do you think Qatar and the Middle East can play in shaping the future of women's

02:06sports globally?

02:07I think it sets a very high precedent that Qatar is investing in its girls.

02:13They're investing in the future and the future is female.

02:18And we want to support and uplift and kind of mold the next generation to be leaders.

02:26And I think that sport is such a powerful tool and a powerful vehicle for change.

02:31Qatar Foundation is working not just to create athletes, but an entire ecosystem around women's

02:35sports, from coaches to leaders.

02:38What's the key to keeping this momentum going?

02:40Qatar Foundation is doing such a great job of, you know, piggybacking on all these amazing

02:45sporting events that are taking place in Qatar.

02:48Qatar is leading the region in hosting so many different events from a range of sports.

02:54And that momentum is in our favor, especially post-World Cup.

02:59When we think about, you know, our youth and their next stages and how they view sport, not

03:05everyone's going to the Olympics, you know, not everyone's competing professionally.

03:09But there's so many different lanes within sport, whether it be coaching or officiating or just

03:16being involved in sports from a local or like youth level that are essential parts of

03:25continuing, you know, this tradition of elevating sports, especially girls and their involvement

03:32in sports to empower the next generation.

03:34From Olympic medalist to mentor, how has your idea of success changed now that you're seeing

03:40young girls carrying the same saber that changed your life?

03:43You know, I'm a competitor, you know, down to my core.

03:47And I've always loved winning.

03:49And I like the thrill of being successful.

03:52And so I've just kind of redefined what success looks like.

03:55It's not always, you know, the trophy or the podium finish.

03:59It can be, you know, seeing these young girls be inspired and be inspired to try something

04:06new, to find confidence in being afraid, you know, may feel like they're going to be judged

04:12for trying a sport for the first time.

04:15And I just want them to be brave and to take up space where traditionally, you know, there

04:20wasn't space for women.

04:22There wasn't space for Muslim girls who wear hijab.

04:25And I just want them to know that they are deserving of every opportunity, especially

04:30in sport.

04:30And if they're willing to work hard, they can fulfill their dreams.

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