Weightlifting in a hijab
How Muslim-American Kulsoom Abdullah won the right to compete in weightlifting in Islamic dress in 2011.
To mark International Women's Day, Ned Carter-Miles has the story of the Muslim-American weightlifter, Kulsoom Abdullah, who in 2011 made history by winning the right to compete in a hijab. It was the climax of a high-profile campaign against the weightlifting authorities, who had argued that judges would not be able to see if she was performing her lifts correctly. Kulsoom's victory has inspired a new generation of women weightlifters in the Muslim world. The programme is a Just Radio Production.
PHOTO: Kulsoom Abdullah in the gym (personal collection)
Last on
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Thu 7 Mar 201909:50GMTBBC World Service
- Fri 8 Mar 201900:50GMTBBC World Service
- Sat 9 Mar 201914:50GMTBBC World Service News Internet
- Sun 10 Mar 201915:50GMTBBC World Service except Americas and the Caribbean, East and Southern Africa, East Asia & South Asia
- Mon 11 Mar 201904:50GMTBBC World Service Australasia, Americas and the Caribbean, UK DAB/Freeview, Online & East Asia only
Olympic history
The inside and personal story of the key moments from sporting history
Sporting Witness Films
Watch sporting heroes tell their stories of astonishing achievement
Podcast
![]()
Sporting Witness
Personal stories of amazing moments from sporting history told by people who were there
