Game Changers: Stories of Hijabi Athletes From Around the World

It was once believed women weren’t interested in sports, then that women were interested in sports but couldn’t play well enough to be worth watching or have their own professional teams. While the representation of women in sports has increased and improved over time and more professional teams are being created and sponsored by big brands, there remains a lack of diversity in who’s playing. Despite notable progress, many girls and female-identifying still experience barriers to participating in sports: not seeing anyone like them playing a sport they’re interested in; the cost of equipment and fees, and uniform requirements can prevent girls and female-identifying individuals from taking parts in sports they love.

Game Changers: Stories of Hijabi Athletes From Around the World showcases girls and women who wear hijab and excel in their chosen sport. In addition to proving they were qualified to play, some of the featured athletes had to modify the typical uniform in order to keep their hair covered and remain modest in line with their religious and cultural beliefs and to convince officials that these adaptations didn’t hinder or benefit their performance.

The athletes profiled represent countries around the globe, and they participate in everything from mainstream sports, such as running, soccer, and basketball, to less common sports like archery, parkour, and skateboarding. Each profile is accompanied by a full-page, full-colour illustrated portrait of the athlete as well as a full-colour illustration of the athlete engaged in her sport. Profiles open with the athlete’s name, the sport played, country of birth, the country she currently lives in, as well as the country she represents. Profiles are broken into three sections, include a short biography, how the athlete got into the sport, and the barriers she had to overcome and/or what she’s done to open the sport to other female athletes. A quote from the athlete, blocked in colour to draw attention, floats above each profile.

After the final profile, a colour photo collage of the athletes, each framed like a trading card, is followed by a list of other hijabi athletes readers will be inspired to learn more about. The book concludes with a glossary and list of additional resources to help readers better understand the barriers the athletes have overcome, and an index so readers can find athletes they have something in common with.

With clear headers and full-colour illustrations showing the athletes engaged in their chosen sport, Game Changers: Stories of Hijabi Athletes From Around the World is accessible and inspiring. The list of almost 30 other hijabi athletes opens the door to research projects, either about the athletes listed, or as inspiration for students to create similar lists of athletes from other cultures. Game Changers: Stories of Hijabi Athletes From Around the World will inspire readers regardless of their backgrounds. Their passion for the sport they play and their determination to excel at it will motivate readers to pursue their passions, sports or otherwise.