we all know what it’s like to be afraid in 2015 when I would travel to different
in 2015 when I would travel to different
in 2015 when I would travel to different places around the world competing for
places around the world competing for
places around the world competing for Team USA I would find myself like most
Team USA I would find myself like most
Team USA I would find myself like most athletes nervous but my nervousness and
athletes nervous but my nervousness and
athletes nervous but my nervousness and my anxiety would manifest itself into
my anxiety would manifest itself into
my anxiety would manifest itself into this debilitating fatigue I would get on
this debilitating fatigue I would get on
this debilitating fatigue I would get on the fencing strip and feel really really
the fencing strip and feel really really
the fencing strip and feel really really tired
tired
tired imagine having to compete when really
imagine having to compete when really
imagine having to compete when really all you want to do is take a nap to say
all you want to do is take a nap to say
all you want to do is take a nap to say the least it didn’t go over too well in
2015 when the Olympic qualifiers began I
2015 when the Olympic qualifiers began I had a decision to make I could allow the
had a decision to make I could allow the
had a decision to make I could allow the negativity and the different obstacles
negativity and the different obstacles
negativity and the different obstacles that had been placed in front of me to
that had been placed in front of me to
that had been placed in front of me to affect me but I chose happiness but how
affect me but I chose happiness but how
affect me but I chose happiness but how did I get here
did I get here
did I get here I didn’t always imagine myself going to
I didn’t always imagine myself going to
I didn’t always imagine myself going to the Olympics it wasn’t until after I
the Olympics it wasn’t until after I
the Olympics it wasn’t until after I graduated from college that I even began
graduated from college that I even began
graduated from college that I even began to compete internationally I remember
to compete internationally I remember
to compete internationally I remember never thinking about the Olympic Games
never thinking about the Olympic Games
never thinking about the Olympic Games as a kid and if you would have told me
as a kid and if you would have told me
as a kid and if you would have told me as a kid I would go on to become the
as a kid I would go on to become the
as a kid I would go on to become the first Muslim woman to represent the
first Muslim woman to represent the
first Muslim woman to represent the United States and come home with an
United States and come home with an
United States and come home with an Olympic medal I probably would have
Olympic medal I probably would have
Olympic medal I probably would have called you crazy grew up in may point of
called you crazy grew up in may point of
called you crazy grew up in may point of Jersey I’m a half an hour outside of New
Jersey I’m a half an hour outside of New
Jersey I’m a half an hour outside of New York City
York City
York City my mom’s schoolteacher my dad’s police
my mom’s schoolteacher my dad’s police
my mom’s schoolteacher my dad’s police officer and and our family sports were
officer and and our family sports were
officer and and our family sports were just very integral part of our
just very integral part of our
just very integral part of our upbringing my parents saw a sport not
upbringing my parents saw a sport not
upbringing my parents saw a sport not just as an opportunity to keep us
just as an opportunity to keep us
just as an opportunity to keep us physically active but also they knew
physically active but also they knew
physically active but also they knew where we were after school and before
where we were after school and before
where we were after school and before they got home from work
they got home from work
they got home from work we weren’t really given the option of
we weren’t really given the option of
we weren’t really given the option of whether or not we would play sport but
whether or not we would play sport but
whether or not we would play sport but rather which sport we would play so
rather which sport we would play so
rather which sport we would play so there’s really early memories as a kid
there’s really early memories as a kid
there’s really early memories as a kid having our town Recreation book placed
having our town Recreation book placed
having our town Recreation book placed in front of me and I got to choose
in front of me and I got to choose
in front of me and I got to choose whichever sport I wanted to try I played
whichever sport I wanted to try I played
whichever sport I wanted to try I played tennis I ran track I played volleyball
tennis I ran track I played volleyball
tennis I ran track I played volleyball and for me in each of these different
and for me in each of these different
and for me in each of these different sports
sports
sports my mom always had to change the
my mom always had to change the
my mom always had to change the a forum for me as a Muslim kid who
a forum for me as a Muslim kid who
a forum for me as a Muslim kid who covers my arms and my legs
covers my arms and my legs
covers my arms and my legs I always felt out of uniform from my
I always felt out of uniform from my
I always felt out of uniform from my teammates I spent a lot of time in
teammates I spent a lot of time in
teammates I spent a lot of time in sporting goods stores trying to find you
sporting goods stores trying to find you
sporting goods stores trying to find you know long sleeves or long pants that
know long sleeves or long pants that
know long sleeves or long pants that matched our school colors and I remember
matched our school colors and I remember
matched our school colors and I remember at 12 years old I was with my mom we’re
at 12 years old I was with my mom we’re
at 12 years old I was with my mom we’re in the car were parked at a stoplight
in the car were parked at a stoplight
in the car were parked at a stoplight and in my town the local high school
and in my town the local high school
and in my town the local high school there’s these huge picture windows and
there’s these huge picture windows and
there’s these huge picture windows and you can see into the school cafeteria I
you can see into the school cafeteria I
you can see into the school cafeteria I saw from the road these athletes inside
saw from the road these athletes inside
saw from the road these athletes inside they had on long white pants they had on
they had on long white pants they had on
they had on long white pants they had on long white jackets and at the time you
long white jackets and at the time you
long white jackets and at the time you know they had on these these helmets
know they had on these these helmets
know they had on these these helmets well we thought were helmets and at the
well we thought were helmets and at the
well we thought were helmets and at the time my mom’s like I no idea what this
time my mom’s like I no idea what this
time my mom’s like I no idea what this sport is but when you get to high school
sport is but when you get to high school
sport is but when you get to high school I want you to try it out
I want you to try it out
I want you to try it out and that’s literally how I got into
and that’s literally how I got into
and that’s literally how I got into fencing when I started competing and
fencing when I started competing and
fencing when I started competing and fencing it was this unique opportunity
fencing it was this unique opportunity
fencing it was this unique opportunity for me not to just be physically active
for me not to just be physically active
for me not to just be physically active but fencing uniquely accommodated my
but fencing uniquely accommodated my
but fencing uniquely accommodated my religious beliefs it allowed me for the
religious beliefs it allowed me for the
religious beliefs it allowed me for the first time in my life to truly feel a
first time in my life to truly feel a
first time in my life to truly feel a part of the team I was in uniform with
part of the team I was in uniform with
part of the team I was in uniform with my teammates even though on my fencing
my teammates even though on my fencing
my teammates even though on my fencing team I was the only african-american and
team I was the only african-american and
team I was the only african-american and one of the only minorities on the team I
one of the only minorities on the team I
one of the only minorities on the team I truly love my team as many of amazing
truly love my team as many of amazing
truly love my team as many of amazing opportunities that were placed in front
opportunities that were placed in front
opportunities that were placed in front of me through the sport of fencing I
of me through the sport of fencing I
of me through the sport of fencing I also had these weird obstacles that
also had these weird obstacles that
also had these weird obstacles that would happen to me as a kid I remember
would happen to me as a kid I remember
would happen to me as a kid I remember all my fencing team was the first time I
all my fencing team was the first time I
all my fencing team was the first time I had ever been referred to by the n-word
had ever been referred to by the n-word
had ever been referred to by the n-word one of my teammates called me an n-word
one of my teammates called me an n-word
one of my teammates called me an n-word and I remember my coach not handling the
and I remember my coach not handling the
and I remember my coach not handling the situation very well this same coach
situation very well this same coach
situation very well this same coach referred to me and my best friend on the
referred to me and my best friend on the
referred to me and my best friend on the team who happened to be Jewish as m1 and
team who happened to be Jewish as m1 and
team who happened to be Jewish as m1 and j-1 I remember being at a local fencing
j-1 I remember being at a local fencing
j-1 I remember being at a local fencing competition and again kind of getting
competition and again kind of getting
competition and again kind of getting used to being singled out for being
used to being singled out for being
used to being singled out for being different a parent came to me and she
different a parent came to me and she
different a parent came to me and she said did you know that they’re black
said did you know that they’re black
said did you know that they’re black people who fence in New York City and I
people who fence in New York City and I
people who fence in New York City and I remember being pretty upset like oh no
remember being pretty upset like oh no
remember being pretty upset like oh no she didn’t right but I remember going
she didn’t right but I remember going
she didn’t right but I remember going home and telling
home and telling
home and telling um there are black people who fence in
um there are black people who fence in
um there are black people who fence in New York so we got on Google the Google
New York so we got on Google the Google
New York so we got on Google the Google did and we found the Peter Westbrook
did and we found the Peter Westbrook
did and we found the Peter Westbrook foundation a non-profit started by
foundation a non-profit started by
foundation a non-profit started by six-time Olympian who wanted to expose
six-time Olympian who wanted to expose
six-time Olympian who wanted to expose minority youth people from underserved
minority youth people from underserved
minority youth people from underserved communities to the sport of fencing it
communities to the sport of fencing it
communities to the sport of fencing it was the first time in my life I saw
was the first time in my life I saw
was the first time in my life I saw fencing at the elite level
fencing at the elite level
fencing at the elite level I saw minorities to be successful in the
I saw minorities to be successful in the
I saw minorities to be successful in the sport of fencing world champions
sport of fencing world champions
sport of fencing world champions Olympians Olympic medalists it allowed
Olympians Olympic medalists it allowed
Olympians Olympic medalists it allowed me to kind of unconsciously graph my
me to kind of unconsciously graph my
me to kind of unconsciously graph my dreams and aspirations within the sport
dreams and aspirations within the sport
dreams and aspirations within the sport of fencing for me I always saw fencing
of fencing for me I always saw fencing
of fencing for me I always saw fencing as a means to an end it was an
as a means to an end it was an
as a means to an end it was an opportunity for me being one of five
opportunity for me being one of five
opportunity for me being one of five kids to go to school on a scholarship
kids to go to school on a scholarship
kids to go to school on a scholarship that was my plan at 13 years old I
that was my plan at 13 years old I
that was my plan at 13 years old I didn’t want to go one hundred and fifty
didn’t want to go one hundred and fifty
didn’t want to go one hundred and fifty thousand dollars into debt so I want to
thousand dollars into debt so I want to
thousand dollars into debt so I want to use fencing to go to a good university
use fencing to go to a good university
use fencing to go to a good university so what happens I received an academic
so what happens I received an academic
so what happens I received an academic scholarship to go to school but I was
scholarship to go to school but I was
scholarship to go to school but I was recruited up to Duke University where I
recruited up to Duke University where I
recruited up to Duke University where I graduated I went on to become a
graduated I went on to become a
graduated I went on to become a three-time all-american at Duke when I
three-time all-american at Duke when I
three-time all-american at Duke when I graduated from school I was studying for
graduated from school I was studying for
graduated from school I was studying for the LSAT looking for a job and I
the LSAT looking for a job and I
the LSAT looking for a job and I remember looking at Team USA and
remember looking at Team USA and
remember looking at Team USA and thinking it’s not very diverse I didn’t
thinking it’s not very diverse I didn’t
thinking it’s not very diverse I didn’t see anyone who looked like me on Team
see anyone who looked like me on Team
see anyone who looked like me on Team USA there has never been a woman of
USA there has never been a woman of
USA there has never been a woman of color on the United States woman sabre
color on the United States woman sabre
color on the United States woman sabre team and I feel like I had this
team and I feel like I had this
team and I feel like I had this opportunity even though I had never been
opportunity even though I had never been
opportunity even though I had never been to a Nash international competition I
to a Nash international competition I
to a Nash international competition I had a really you know abysmal national
had a really you know abysmal national
had a really you know abysmal national ranking no international ranking it’s
ranking no international ranking it’s
ranking no international ranking it’s kind of a shot in the dark to qualify
kind of a shot in the dark to qualify
kind of a shot in the dark to qualify for a US team but I took the opportunity
for a US team but I took the opportunity
for a US team but I took the opportunity I changed coaches I ended up making my
I changed coaches I ended up making my
I changed coaches I ended up making my first team in 2010 and I’ve been on the
first team in 2010 and I’ve been on the
first team in 2010 and I’ve been on the team ever since and the Muslim community
team ever since and the Muslim community
team ever since and the Muslim community is kind of cool because being one of the
is kind of cool because being one of the
is kind of cool because being one of the only Muslim women involved in sport at
only Muslim women involved in sport at
only Muslim women involved in sport at the elite level
the elite level
the elite level I’ve always been referred to as an
I’ve always been referred to as an
I’ve always been referred to as an Olympian and I remember I was at an
Olympian and I remember I was at an
Olympian and I remember I was at an event and 2012 right after the 2012
event and 2012 right after the 2012
event and 2012 right after the 2012 Olympics and a little girl came to me
Olympics and a little girl came to me
Olympics and a little girl came to me and she was asking for for an autograph
and she was asking for for an autograph
and she was asking for for an autograph and for a photo and she referred to me
and for a photo and she referred to me
and for a photo and she referred to me as an Olympian she said are you are you
as an Olympian she said are you are you
as an Olympian she said are you are you the muslim olympic fencer
the muslim olympic fencer
the muslim olympic fencer and before I could tell her that I
and before I could tell her that I
and before I could tell her that I wasn’t an Olympian I remember my friend
wasn’t an Olympian I remember my friend
wasn’t an Olympian I remember my friend saying she’s not an Olympian don’t worry
saying she’s not an Olympian don’t worry
saying she’s not an Olympian don’t worry this girl is not a friend anymore really
this girl is not a friend anymore really
this girl is not a friend anymore really she’s not but I remember in that moment
she’s not but I remember in that moment
she’s not but I remember in that moment I wanted an Olympic team more for this
I wanted an Olympic team more for this
I wanted an Olympic team more for this little girl and more for my younger self
little girl and more for my younger self
little girl and more for my younger self than I’d ever wanted an Olympic team in
than I’d ever wanted an Olympic team in
than I’d ever wanted an Olympic team in my life I wanted to change the narrative
my life I wanted to change the narrative
my life I wanted to change the narrative for Muslim girls for Muslims in general
for Muslim girls for Muslims in general
for Muslim girls for Muslims in general for african-americans for minorities for
for african-americans for minorities for
for african-americans for minorities for anyone who had ever been told no who
anyone who had ever been told no who
anyone who had ever been told no who never felt represented in a particular
never felt represented in a particular
never felt represented in a particular space who didn’t feel like they were
space who didn’t feel like they were
space who didn’t feel like they were welcome in a particular space qualifying
welcome in a particular space qualifying
welcome in a particular space qualifying for the United States Olympic team was
for the United States Olympic team was
for the United States Olympic team was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done
one of the hardest things I’ve ever done
one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life but I remember in April of
in my life but I remember in April of
in my life but I remember in April of 2015 when our qualifiers began I made
2015 when our qualifiers began I made
2015 when our qualifiers began I made this conscious decision that I would be
this conscious decision that I would be
this conscious decision that I would be happy I wouldn’t allow any of the
happy I wouldn’t allow any of the
happy I wouldn’t allow any of the negative things I would hear I wouldn’t
negative things I would hear I wouldn’t
negative things I would hear I wouldn’t allow the people who would come in my
allow the people who would come in my
allow the people who would come in my life who had told me that they didn’t
life who had told me that they didn’t
life who had told me that they didn’t believe in my journey they didn’t
believe in my journey they didn’t
believe in my journey they didn’t believe in my abilities that I would
believe in my abilities that I would
believe in my abilities that I would never be an Olympian I didn’t allow that
never be an Olympian I didn’t allow that
never be an Olympian I didn’t allow that to seep in into affect me I believed in
to seep in into affect me I believed in
to seep in into affect me I believed in myself I believed in my journey I
myself I believed in my journey I
myself I believed in my journey I remember telling myself that I was a
remember telling myself that I was a
remember telling myself that I was a champion over and over and over not
champion over and over and over not
champion over and over and over not because you know I was in every
because you know I was in every
because you know I was in every competition but because I needed that
competition but because I needed that
competition but because I needed that energy and needed to be positive in
energy and needed to be positive in
energy and needed to be positive in order to make my dreams a reality
order to make my dreams a reality
order to make my dreams a reality when I qualified for the Olympic team in
when I qualified for the Olympic team in
when I qualified for the Olympic team in 2016 and by the grace of God came home
2016 and by the grace of God came home
2016 and by the grace of God came home with an Olympic medal it was one of the
with an Olympic medal it was one of the
with an Olympic medal it was one of the greatest honors of my life to represent
greatest honors of my life to represent
greatest honors of my life to represent my country to represent my hometown to
my country to represent my hometown to
my country to represent my hometown to represent my family my friends to
represent my family my friends to
represent my family my friends to represent all of you at the Olympic
represent all of you at the Olympic
represent all of you at the Olympic Games for Team USA if you would have
Games for Team USA if you would have
Games for Team USA if you would have told me 30 years ago that I’d be in this
told me 30 years ago that I’d be in this
told me 30 years ago that I’d be in this position probably would have called you
position probably would have called you
position probably would have called you crazy if I had allowed other people to
crazy if I had allowed other people to
crazy if I had allowed other people to dictate my journey for me if I had a lot
dictate my journey for me if I had a lot
dictate my journey for me if I had a lot of misconceptions about Who I am as a
of misconceptions about Who I am as a
of misconceptions about Who I am as a woman as an african-american as a Muslim
woman as an african-american as a Muslim
woman as an african-american as a Muslim to affect how I felt about myself to a
to affect how I felt about myself to a
to affect how I felt about myself to a like my journey I wouldn’t be standing
like my journey I wouldn’t be standing
like my journey I wouldn’t be standing here before you today I tell young
here before you today I tell young
here before you today I tell young people this all the time in particular
people this all the time in particular
people this all the time in particular our girls you have to believe in
our girls you have to believe in
our girls you have to believe in yourself first you have to believe in
yourself first you have to believe in
yourself first you have to believe in your journey and never allow anyone else
your journey and never allow anyone else
your journey and never allow anyone else to dictate your journey for you
to dictate your journey for you
to dictate your journey for you everything you need to be successful is
everything you need to be successful is
everything you need to be successful is already inside you just have to take a
already inside you just have to take a
already inside you just have to take a leap of faith and believe you can have
leap of faith and believe you can have
leap of faith and believe you can have anything you want in this world if you
anything you want in this world if you
anything you want in this world if you make it a source of good and you make it
make it a source of good and you make it
make it a source of good and you make it and you make it an opportunity to give
and you make it an opportunity to give
and you make it an opportunity to give back to the community thank you so much
back to the community thank you so much
back to the community thank you so much [Applause]
”
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