First U.S. Olympian to compete in a hijab won her opening bout

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:15 p.m. ET

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Kerouac Smith

Fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first US Olympian to compete in a hijab, won her opening bout on Monday.

Muhammad, who beat Olena Kravatska of Ukraine 15-13, sported the Muslim head scarf under her red, white and blue mask.

She's ranked No. 8 in the world with a saber.

Her next opponent is French fencer Cecilia Berde, ranked ninth. (Update: She lost her second-round bout).

The 30-year-old from New Jersey has her own fashion line devoted to modest fashionable clothing and is an ambassador for the Empowering Women and Girls Through Sport Initiative through the U.S. Department of State.

Muhammad, who joined the US Fencing team in 2010, is competing in her first Olympics, having missed out on the 2012 London Games. She was a three-time All-American at Duke and a Junior Olympics champion.

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