• MSN
  • Hotmail
  • More
    • Autos
    • My MSN
    • Video
    • Careers & Jobs
    • Personals
    • Weather
    • Delish
    • Quotes
    • White Pages
    • Games
    • Real Estate
    • Wonderwall
    • Horoscopes
    • Shopping
    • Yellow Pages
    • Local Edition
    • Traffic
    • Feedback
    • Maps & Directions
    • Travel
    • Full MSN Index
  • Bing
  • NBCNews.com
  • TODAY
  • Nightly News
  • Rock Center
  • Meet the Press
  • Dateline
  • msnbc
  • Breaking News
  • Newsvine
  • Home
  • US
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Travel
  • Local
  • Weather
Advertise | AdChoices
  • Recommended: Will China mediate the Israeli-Palestinian peace process?
  • Recommended: 'Eternal' delays to airport, billion-dollar concert hall hit German reputation for efficiency
  • Recommended: Tunisian police clash with al Qaeda supporters over banned rally
  • Recommended: Report: Syria's Assad vows 'no dialogue with terrorists'

First for breaking news and analysis: Compelling world news stories from NBC News journalists. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

  • ↓ About this blog
  • ↓ Archives
    • Icons Email E-mail updates
    • Icons Twitter Follow on Twitter
    • Icons Feed Subscribe to RSS
  • 3
    Aug
    2012
    8:23am, EDT

    Wojdan Shaherkani makes history as first Saudi Arabian woman in Olympics

    Kim Kyung-Hoon / Reuters

    Saudi Arabia's Wojdan Shaherkani arrives ahead of her women's +78kg elimination round of 32 judo match against Puerto Rico's Melissa Mojica at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 3, 2012.

    Mitch Goldich, NBC Olympics reports — After a week of controversy and hand-wringing — first declaring she would fight without a hijab, then saying she would withdraw if not allowed to wear one — Wojdan Shaherkani finally made history this morning, as the first Saudi Arabian woman ever to participate in the Olympic Games.

    The bout lasted less than two minutes as Puerto Rico's Melissa Mojica threw Shaherkani to her back with a match-ending ippon.  Shaherkani adjusted her head covering as she stood back up, and then shook Mojica's hand to rousing applause. Read the full story.

    Darren Staples / Reuters

    The bout between Shaherkani (top) and Mojica lasted less than two minutes.

    Kim Kyung-Hoon / Reuters

    The crowd was friendly toward Shaherkani, cheering triumphantly when the PA announcer broke from his typical monotony of introductions to say, "The first woman ever from Saudi Arabia to compete in the Olympics, Shaherkani."

    View more photos from the London Olympics on PhotoBlog

    Complete coverage on NBCOlympics.com

    Slideshow: Olympic Emotional Moments

    /

    Click for more from the 2012 summer games in London.

    Launch slideshow

     

    1 comment

    Masha'llah! I and fellow Muslims are very proud of what you have accomplish today in being the first female Saudi competitor for Judo! I hope to see you come back and compete again in the future. You have inspired many Muslim women around the world! May Allah grant us peace and equality! Ameen!

    Show more
    Explore related topics: sports, olympics, london, saudi-arabia, judo, summer-games, wojdan-shaherkani

Browse

  • featured,
  • world-news,
  • syria,
  • china,
  • europe,
  • afghanistan,
  • world,
  • middle-east,
  • israel,
  • pakistan,
  • egypt,
  • iran,
  • russia,
  • updated,
  • uk,
  • north-korea,
  • africa,
  • london,
  • military,
  • assad,
  • france,
  • protest,
  • environment,
  • al-qaida,
  • britain,
  • taliban,
  • nuclear,
  • italy,
  • india,
  • terrorism,
  • asia,
  • germany,
  • japan,
  • vatican,
  • economy,
  • crime,
  • human-rights,
  • mexico,
  • south-africa,
  • pope
Also
Advertise | AdChoices

Archives

  • 2013
    • May (151)
    • April (275)
    • March (432)
    • February (332)
    • January (323)
  • 2012
    • December (332)
    • November (332)
    • October (313)
    • September (360)
    • August (362)
    • July (310)
    • June (351)
    • May (427)
    • April (404)
    • March (427)
    • February (347)
    • January (284)
  • 2011
    • December (357)
    • November (3)

Most Commented

  • Girl's organs removed after vacation death; family believes they may have been sold (613)
  • Never too late: Nazi hunters tirelessly pursue 50 elderly Auschwitz war criminals (702)
  • A saint-making record is also a diplomatic headache for Pope Francis (590)
  • Chef to the stars Miki Nozawa dies following confrontation over unpaid bill (412)
  • Price of a night's sleep? Israel reportedly spends $127K to build bedroom on PM's plane (442)
  • Two waiters arrested in killing of Malcolm X's grandson in Mexico (414)
  • Japanese mayor: WWII 'comfort women' sex slaves 'necessary' for morale (392)

Other blogs

  • The Body Odd
  • Cosmic Log
  • Red Tape Chronicles
  • PhotoBlog
  • US News
  • Open Channel

NBCNews.com top stories

3147,10
© 2013 NBCNews.com
  • World news on NBCNews.com
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Help
  • Site map
  • Careers
  • Closed captioning
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Advertise