I leaned on my family for support, called on my faith to get through those difficult moments, and realized that my work ethic and commitment had to be unmatched in order for my dreams to be realised.īy believing in myself and refusing to take no for an answer, I have broken barriers and shattered stereotypes. Taking on the challenge of qualifying for Team USA was not only an opportunity for me to challenge society's limited expectations of me as a Muslim woman, but also an opportunity to make sure Muslim girls and women around the world would see themselves in sport. Growing up, I did not see sportswomen who looked like me.
Fighting to realise my dreamsīreaking barriers was a motivating factor for me throughout my athletic career.
If you didn't know me or know what I look like, you might never guess from my quintessential American experiences and values that I am often othered because of the colour of my skin and my faith.Īs an African-American and Muslim woman, I have come to know what discrimination feels like, learned how to overcome those obstacles, discovered a passion for being an agent of change and now understand that it is our collective responsibility as a people to honour each other's potential.
I enjoyed family holidays, swimming in the pool, riding bikes around the neighbourhood, and countless other adventures with my siblings and friends. I am the picture of the American Dream - growing up in New Jersey, a public school kid, with loving parents who told me that with hard work and perseverance, anything was possible. Throughout my life, I've used the values my parents instilled in me as a child - like hard work, love, and faith - to overcome challenges. When there was an obstacle placed in my path, I would quickly resolve to push it out of the way. Now that she's an Olympic medallist in fencing, she's released The Proudest Blue - and tells us here how she hopes it will help kids pursue their dreams. Growing up in America, Ibtihaj Muhammad never saw herself in children's books. 'I didn't see myself in children's books': Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad on writing for kids
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