Iranian American wrestling champion leads effort to develop singlet for conservative Muslim women
Jordan national women's team member Balqis Cail Taaibin, in red, wrestles Kazakhstan's Shugyla Omirbek during the U23 Asian Championships in Amman, Jordan, in June. (Photo courtesy of Jordan Wrestling Federation)
On a trip to Jordan in February, Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston, the first woman from the United States to medal at the world championships in freestyle wrestling, met and coached a team of young Jordanian female wrestlers, some of whom have to decide between competing and violating their religious commitment to cover their heads and shoulders in public.
One young woman, she recalls, set her on a quest to change that.
“I saw myself in her,” said Roshanzamir Johnston. “She loves the sport of wrestling and I wanted to provide the opportunity for her and others in the world.”
