American Ibtihaj Muhammad opened her historic appearance at the Rio Games on Monday by defeating Olena Kravatska of Ukraine, 15-13, in the women's individual sabre fencing competition.
Muhammad, the first U.S. Olympian to compete in a hijab (a Muslim head scarf), rallied repeatedly in the match to advance to the table of 16 later in the day.
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The 30-year-old fencer entered her first Olympics as world No. 8 and already is one of the faces of Team USA in Rio.