If you haven't heard of Ibtihaj Muhammad yet, you will if you watch much of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
The 2007 Duke graduate is about to become the first U.S. athlete to participate in the Olympics while wearing a hijab, the traditional covering for the hair and neck that is worn by Muslim women.
Muhammad, 30, is a Muslim fencer who is originally from New Jersey. When she was 13, she and her parents picked fencing as a sport she could try. They were searching for a sport Muhammad could play while being fully covered so she could adhere to the tenets of her faith.
The saber is Muhammad's fencing weapon of choice. While she is a long shot to win a medal in Rio, it's not impossible. There is also a possibility she could be chosen as the U.S. flag bearer in either the opening or closing ceremonies.
Muhammad has met with President Obama to talk about Muslim issues in the U.S. community. She also has a clothing line, called Louella, that aims to bring modest fashionable clothing to the United States market. I caught up with Muhammad in a pre-Olympic interview session not long ago with several other reporters for this Q&A.
