Ibtihaj Muhammad

Birthplace: Maplewood, N.J.
Current Residence: Maplewood, N.J.
Club: Peter Westbrook Foundation
Coach: Akhi Spencer-El
Interests: Politics, photography, language, football, culture and religion
Influences: There are so many! My parents have guided me spiritually which has kept me grounded; my coach, Akhi, for believing in my athletic ability; and six-time Olympian Peter Westbrook for his guidance and support.
Current U.S. Ranking: No. 3
Current World Ranking: No. 23
Honors:

• 2016 TIME 100 Most Influential People
• Three-time NCAA All-American (2004, 2005, 2006)
• Muslim Sportswoman of the Year (2012) 

Olympic Teams: 2016 (Bronze - Team)
Senior World Championship Teams: 2017, 2015 (Bronze - Team), 2014 (Gold - Team), 2013 (Bronze - Team), 2012 (Bronze - Team), 2011 (Bronze - Team), 2010
Pan American Games Teams: 2015 (Gold - Team), 2011 (Gold - Team)
Pan American Championship Teams: 2016 (Gold - Individual and Team), 2015 (Gold - Team), 2014 (Bronze), 2013 (Gold - Team), 2012 (Gold - Team), 2011 (Gold - Team), 2010 (Gold - Team, Bronze - Individual)
As a Muslim youth, Muhammad’s parents were in search of a sport for her to play where she could be fully covered. Fencing provided a unique opportunity where Muhammad could fulfill her desire to participate in sport and adhere to the tenants of her faith to cover her body.  She began fencing at age 13 and never looked back. 
Muhammad trains in New York City at the Peter Westbrook Foundation, an organization founded by Olympian Peter Westbrook to mentor inner-city kids through the sport of fencing. Muhammad, a three-time All-American, graduated from Duke University with a dual major in international relations and African studies, and a minor in Arabic. In 2014, Muhammad launched her own clothing company, Louella, which aims to bring modest fashionable clothing to the United States market.
She also is a sports ambassador, where she serves on the U.S. Department of State’s Empowering Women and Girls Through Sport Initiative. She has traveled to various countries to engage in dialogue on the importance of sports and education.

Personal

Muhammad made history in Rio as the first U.S. woman to compete in the Olympic Game in hijab and reached her goal of standing on the podium when she won bronze with the U.S. Women’s Saber Team. Ranked No. 7 in the world individually, Muhammad won gold with Team USA at the 2014 Senior World Championships and holds four bronze Senior World medals.

Results

2017:

• Gold - USA Fencing National Championships (Division I)
• Silver - Pan American Championships (Team)
• Fifth - Pan American Championships (Individual)
• 18th - Tunisia Grand Prix
• 18th - Athens World Cup
• 33rd - New York World Cup
• 33rd - Seoul Grand Prix
• 34th - Yangzhou World Cup

2016:

• Gold - Pan American Championships (Individual)
• Gold - Pan American Championships (Team)
• Bronze - Olympic Games (Team)
• Bronze - Athens World Cup
• Fourth - Foshan World Cup (Team)
• 11th - Foshan World Cup
• 12th - Olympic Games (Individual)
• 13th - Seoul Grand Prix
• 17th - Gent World Cup
• 33rd - Cancun Grand Prix 
• 36th - Moscow Grand Prix

2015:

• Silver - Seoul Grand Prix 
• Bronze - USA Fencing National Championships (Division I)
• Bronze - Gent World Cup 
• 17th - Athens World Cup 
• 21st - Gent World Cup 

2014:

• Gold - Senior World Championships (Team)
• Gold - Antalya World Cup (Team)
• Silver - Absolute Fencing Gear Korfanty World Cup (Team)
• Bronze - Moscow Grand Prix
• Bronze - Pan American Championships 
• Seventh - Absolute Fencing Gear Korfanty World Cup (Individual)
• Ninth - January North American Cup (Division I)
• 13th - Antalya World Cup (Individual)
• 14th - Orleans World Cup
• 19th - Margarita Island World Cup 
• 21st - Gent World Cup
• 21st - Orleans Grand Prix
• 33rd - Dakar World Cup
• 34th - Bolzano World Cup
• 35th - Absolute Fencing Gear New York Grand Prix 
• 35th - Senior World Championships (Individual)

2013:

• Gold - Absolute Fencing Gear Korfanty World Cup (Team)
• Gold - Pan American Championships (Team)
• Gold - December North American Cup (Division I)
• Silver - Bologna World Cup
• Bronze - Senior World Championships (Team)
• Seventh - Antalya World Cup
• 11th - Absolute Fencing Gear Korfanty World Cup
• 12th - London World Cup
• 13th - Gent World Cup
• 18th - Senior World Championships (Individual)
• 18th - Orleans Grand Prix
• 18th - Moscow Grand Prix

2012:

• Gold - Pan American Championships (Team)
• Bronze - World Team Championships 
• Bronze - January North American Cup
• Fifth - Pan American Championships (Individual)
• Sixth - Bologna World Cup
• 11th - Korfanty World Cup
• 11th - Tianjin Grand Prix
• 20th - Gent World Cup
• 24th - Moscow Grand Prix

2011: 

• Gold - Pan American Championships (Team)
• Gold - Pan American Games (Team)
• Gold - USA Fencing National Championships (Team)
• Gold - North American Cup C 
• Bronze - Senior World Championships (Team)
• Bronze - New York World Cup (Team)
• Bronze - USA Fencing National Championships (Division I)
• Fifth - Pan American Games (Individual)
• Fifth - December North American Cup 
• Sixth - Gent World Cup
• Seventh - New York World Cup (Individual)
• Ninth - Tianjin Grand Prix
• Ninth - Pan American Championships (Individual)
• 14th - Istanbul World Cup
• 17th - Bologna World Cup
• 20th - Moscow Grand Prix
• 24th - London World Cup
• 35th - Senior World Championships (Individual)
• 41st - Orleans Grand Prix

2010:

• Gold - Pan American Championships (Team)
• Gold - December North American Cup
• Silver - North American Cup F
• Bronze - Tianjin World Cup (Team)
• Bronze - Tunisia World Cup (Bronze)
• Fourth - Senior World Championships (Team)
• Seventh - New York World Cup 
• Ninth - USA Fencing National Championships 
• 14th - Senior World Championships (Individual)
• 18th - North American Cup D

2009:

• Gold - USA Fencing National Championships (Division I Individual)
• Silver - USA Fencing National Championships (Division I Team)
• Seventh - North American Cup C

2005:

• Gold - USA Fencing Junior Olympic Championships