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Muslim sprinter wins Olympic sprint dressed head to toe in a hijab
Last updated at 17:12pm on 19.08.08
Sprinters have long been squeezing their muscular frames into the most eye-wateringly skimpy, tight and revealing costumes imaginable.
But one female athlete at this year’s Olympics is bucking the trend for bulging lycra and naked torsos.
In 2004, Bahrain's Ruqaya Al Ghasara, a devout Muslim, was the first athlete to ever take part in an Olympics wearing a hijab.
Bahrain's Roqaya Al-Gassra powers to victory in her 200m sprint heat today
Today, Al Ghasara won her heat of the women’s 200m sprint at the Bird's Nest stadium - despite being clothed head to foot.
Al Ghasara finished first followed by France's Muriel Hurtis-Houairi and Sri Lanka's Susanthika Jayasinghe.
Admittedly, Al Ghasara 's hijab is a rather sportier version of the traditional dress.
Clinging to her body as she powers down the track the hijab completely covers her head, arms and legs.
Known as a Hijood - or hijab combined with a sports hood - the costume was specially designed for Al Ghasara by an Australian sports clothing company.
It allows Muslim athletes to compete while still adhering to the strict modesty required of their faith.
Al-Gassra prays as she celebrates winning her 200m heat
Al Ghasara, who was the Bahrain flag-bearer at last week’s opening ceremony, jas said the Hijood has improved her performance.
'It’s great to finally have a high performance outfit that allows me to combine my need for modesty with a design made from breathable, moisture-controlled fabric,” she said.
'It’s definitely helped me to improve my times being able to wear something so comfortable and I’m sure it will help me to give my best performance at Beijing.
'I hope that my wearing the hijood sports top will inspire other women to see that modesty or religious beliefs don’t have to be a barrier to participating in competitive sports.'
In 2004 Al Ghasara defied objections from fundamentalists in her village to take part in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, running in the 100 metres.
And in 2006 she won the women’s 200m final at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, making her the first Bahraini-born athlete to win a major international athletics gold medal.
Reader views (7)
Body covering Outfit is not matter of bad effects on perfomance for women.
Perfomance of ruquea in 200 metre race showing that women have no problem to perform highest level of performance in sports activities.
Muslim comunity is allowed and encorage their girls and women to participate in sports under their dress code.
An other problem of muslim women is perfoming their activities with the nacked type athlete, it is not suited.
Number of muslim women is incresing in the Islamic women games, due to the environment is suitable to the women, pertcullarly due to the security of their body movment are not presented publicly in frout of male.
Nacked type of sports outfit is a big problem of islamic comunity and this problem is one of the basic issue so that women not participate in sports activities.
- Abdul Karim Mughal, Karachi, Pakistan.
Mashallah that show how Muslim feel strong for there religion.
No matter where they are, what they do always put Religion 1st.
May also make us have strong Faith like her. A woman is a flower
and a flower should always be protected and not exposed.
- Rukiya, Mombasa
With Allah's help she wins. She shows in Islam there no problem for Muslim women in games.
- Firdous, ang mo kio singapore
Proved that the dress code a community is keeping will protect her and will not hinder her from entering into the job of her interest . There is no logic in criticizing one community's dress code.
- Sudarsan.K.B., India
At least one lady followed her religion as much as she can during the Beijing Olympics and I hope all Muslims should follow the same (at least the same way of dress).
God Bless us "Insha Allah".
- Abu Adnan, JEDDAH - SAUDI ARABIA
Yes!
- Ana, indian
Subanallah!
Here is an example of a real lady. You can look beautiful without looking seductive. I hope the other women get the message of empowerment...that they are not sex objects for me. The women who are running basically naked are oppressed by the male dominated world...for they have subcumb to it.
- Malik, Tampa, Fl. U.S.A.
