Bronze For Hijab-Wearing US Fencer Ibtihaj

Team USA continues to rack up medals, with the U.S. Olympic Women’s Fencing Team earning the Bronze medal on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro.

United States’ Ibtihaj Muhammad, Dagmara Wozniak and Mariel Zagunis beat Poland’s team 45-43 in the quarterfinals Saturday morning.

In the event’s Olympic debut in Beijing, the United States took the bronze medal.

Besides representing the USA in sports, Ibtihaj takes pride in her clothing business having American roots.

Muhammad, who is ranked 8 in the world for sabre fencing, wears the hijab in accordance with her Muslim faith.

Muhammad explained how she worked hard just like the rest of her teammates in preparation for the games: “We’re like any other athletes, we have worked really hard for this”.

Ibtihaj Muhammad will have a medal to bring home from Rio, after all.

The US collective painted a colourful picture on the podium with pink, blonde and purple hair, and Muhammad wearing her headscarf.

Zagunis, who closed out the victory in the anchor position, outscored her Italian opponents 15-9 Saturday in helping to lead the U.S.to bronze for the second time in as many times as the weapon has been contested on the team level.

It was a double gold for Russia’s Yana Egorian, who won the women’s individual title last week, ahead of team-mate Sofiya Velikaya.

After Zagunis picked up another win, Muhammad had by far her best moment of the Olympics.

“Our plan was that, no matter what happened, to just focus on these four voices”, Muhammad said of teammates Zagunis, Wozniak and Monica Aksamit.

Russian Federation was just as dominant as Muhammad and the Americans in the finals.

The Olympic fencing tournament concludes Sunday with the men’s epee team event.