She did not win any medals in London 2012 but Wojdan Shahrkhani did something else. Shahrkhani became the first Saudi Arabian woman to compete at an Olympic Games.
Shahrkhani’s quick loss to the more experienced Puerto Rican Melissa Mojica in the +78kg judo competition was totally expected. Shahrkhani has practiced the sport for just two years. But while the bout ended quickly it left a lasting impression. The crowd stood and cheered for Shahrkhani anyway. They knew what they had just witnessed had become breaking news well beyond the bout’s venue.
Shahrkhani had been in the news even before her event began after judo officials said she could not wear a headscarf for safety reasons because a fighter could be accidentally choked during the rough, physical contests. Because Shahrkhani would not take off her hijab there were worries she would withdraw. Fortunately, the two sides came to an agreement, and Shahrkhani wore a substitute tight-fighting black cap onto the mat.
This supposed compromise over Shahrkhani’s head gear could have been reached long ago. The International Olympic Committee, which invited Shahrkhani to play in London, must have known she wore a hijab and must have known she would not take it off when competing. Instead of settling the debate from the start and have Shahrkhani wear the cap – which is a credible alternative to the hijab - the IOC first made the dramatic announcement that Shahrkhani could not play with the hijab, after which Shahrkhani announced she would not play without it, which was followed by anxious days before the issue was settled. This high noon drama could have been avoided.
Apparently, the hijab still causes much controversy in the West and in sports in the West. It seems a scarf can be tied almost anywhere – around the ankles, calves, below or atop the knees, thighs, waist, wrists, arms, neck and forehead. But if that piece of cloth levitates to the top of a woman’s head, the alarm bells go off.
Shahrkhani’s hijab was a side issue and should not distract from the main theme: For the first time in an Olympics every competing country had at least one female athlete, and Saudi Arabia contributed to that landmark.
Shahrkhani does not have the spotlight all to herself. Another female member of the Saudi delegation, Sarah Attar, will compete in the 800m of women’s track on Wednesday. And Noor Al-Malki created a slice of history as well when on Friday she became the first female athlete from Qatar to compete in the Games. Al-Malki pulled out with a muscle strain but not before the history books were rewritten.
Shahrkhani says she would like to come back for more and at 16 she can enter a few more Olympics. For now she must make due with the Olympic motto: “The most important thing is not to win but to take part”. Shahrkhani did not win a medal but she put the Kingdom on the world Olympics map. In so doing, she has struck gold.