Sarah Chaari makes history as first European Muslim woman Olympic medalist

Belgian taekwondo athlete Sarah Shaari has made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by becoming the first Muslim woman from Europe to win an Olympic medal.

Shaari secured the bronze medal in the women’s under 67 kg category, defeating Uzbekistan’s Ozoda Sobirjonova with a score of 2-1.

Born on May 2, 2005 in Belgium to a Moroccan father and a Belgian mother, Shaari began practicing taekwondo at the age of five and quickly demonstrated her talent. Despite her youth, she achieved significant milestones, including winning the World Taekwondo Championship in the lightweight division in 2022 at just 17 years old.

In 2023, Shaari continued her success by earning a gold medal at the European Games in the 62 kg category and winning the Taekwondo Grand Prix. These accomplishments qualified her for the Paris Olympics, where she etched her name into the annals of European sports history.

In addition to her athletic achievements, Shaari is also pursuing an academic career in medicine. She manages to balance her studies and training by dedicating her evenings to practice after attending classes during the day.