Muslim women have been truly inspiring us these Olympics. From Sara Ahmed’s historic Gold to Ibtihaj Muhammad’s Team US bronze and Zahra Nemati qualification in both the Olympics and Paralympics muslim women have been making history. Two more women joined the list on the 18th of August: Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin and Hedaya Wahba.

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In taekwondo muslim women are up and coming powerhouses. Their growing force manifested itself at Rio 2016, where Iranian Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin  and Egyptian Hedaya Wahba both won bronze in the -57 kg weight category. The women’s medals set another first: they were the first women’s taekwondo medals for both Iran and Egypt.

The women hope their success will empower and inspire more women. In particular Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin hopes to inspire more Iranian women. Her bronze medal, beyond being the first women’s taekwondo medal for Iran, was the first medal ever won by an Iranian woman!

“I thank God that I made history with my bronze to pave the way for other Iranian women. I am very excited and I want to thank my parents and my coach. They really stand behind me and I am so happy.”

-Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin

Getty Images/Laurence Griffiths

Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin hopes to return in Tokyo 2020 and win the gold. And as an upcoming star anything would seem possible for her. She won gold at the 2015 Summer Youth Olympics, and the 2015 World Taekwondo Grand Prix. She also won bronze at the 2015 World Taekwondo Championship. We certainly are wishing her the greatest success in her continued training!

If you liked this post check out more in our Olympic series: Making History, Muslim Women In the Olympics