A female Muslim weightlifter in Atlanta can now compete wearing a hijab and body-covering unitard, further ruining the chance that women lifters will be though of as sexy.
Kulsoom Abdullah began lifting last year at her gym, and her repressed anger at the male dominated Islamic ways helped her discover she was surprisingly good at the sport. She qualified for the American Open Weightlifting Championships last December, but USA Weightlifting, the event's sponsoring body, told her that she would not be able to compete in her modified uniform that covers everything but her hands, feet, and face.
Officials cited they had to blindly follow the guidelines of the International Weightlifting Federation, which mandated that elbows and knees be uncovered so judges could tell that athletes had fully locked them out when they lifted. Both the U.S. Olympic Committee and Abdullah petitioned the group, and at a meeting in Malaysia, home of ultra-conservative Muslims, the IWF determined a tight-fitting unitard would be acceptable.
Abdullah has a PhD in electrical computer engineering from Georgia Tech, and still does research at the university, but enjoyed lifting because it "gave me confidence". Yes, and those dorks in the lab will never try and but a move on you again at the annual White Coat Mixer.
Kulsoom Abdullah began lifting last year at her gym, and her repressed anger at the male dominated Islamic ways helped her discover she was surprisingly good at the sport. She qualified for the American Open Weightlifting Championships last December, but USA Weightlifting, the event's sponsoring body, told her that she would not be able to compete in her modified uniform that covers everything but her hands, feet, and face.
Officials cited they had to blindly follow the guidelines of the International Weightlifting Federation, which mandated that elbows and knees be uncovered so judges could tell that athletes had fully locked them out when they lifted. Both the U.S. Olympic Committee and Abdullah petitioned the group, and at a meeting in Malaysia, home of ultra-conservative Muslims, the IWF determined a tight-fitting unitard would be acceptable.
Abdullah has a PhD in electrical computer engineering from Georgia Tech, and still does research at the university, but enjoyed lifting because it "gave me confidence". Yes, and those dorks in the lab will never try and but a move on you again at the annual White Coat Mixer.
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