Wojdan Shaherkhani didn't win her judo match today against Puerto Rico's Melissa Mojica. But she still made history as the first woman to compete in the Olympics for Saudi Arabia. Below, a rundown of her brief but boundary-breaking fight.
Shaherkhani almost didn't compete, because judo's governing body didn't want her to wear a hijab. They found a compromise in time.
Image by MIGUEL MEDINA / Getty Images
She became the first Saudi woman ever to compete in an Olympic event. Runner Sarah Attar will compete in the 800 meters for Saudi Arabia next week.
Image by TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA / Getty Images
Shaherkhani is just 16, and not yet a black belt. Some people worried she wasn't ready to compete in the Olympics.
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Her opponent, Melissa Mojica, 28, is more experienced. She's ranked 13th in the world.
Image by Mike Groll / AP
