Are Jamaicans better runners??

Are whites better swimmers? Are Chinese people are better gymnasts?

There's a great article and topic of discussion over at Racialicious...

Muslims find ways to compete, Islamically

  

So, I'm watching the Olympics with my wife, as I do almost every night (she has really taking control of the TV), and my wife starts yelling, "Baby Look!  As Salaamu Alaikum!"  

To my amazement I see this fully covered sister competing in the 200m finals.  I know I'm a little late but I never watched the Olympics in 2004.  Apparently, Bahrain's Ruqaya Al Ghasara, was the first athlete to ever take part in an Olympics wearing a hijab.   She also won her heat in the women’s 200m sprint this year.

"Known as a Hijood - or hijab combined with a sports hood - the costume was specially designed for Al Ghasara by an Australian sports clothing company."

 Muslims have been adjusting dress to compete in sports for a while now.  At my own Muslim high school, the sisters stayed covered for both soccer and basketball, gaining national attention on ESPN. In my own family, my sisters-in-law got all of there swim suits hand made to modestly cover their bodies.  They would always get the question:

"All that material doesn't hold you back?"

And of course the answer would be in their performance: first place, and what! We all joke when NASA and speedo just recently improved the design of their Muslim swimsuit.

Black Olympians....2008

The upcoming JET cover...