Muslim women have been competing in the Olympics for decades but it may just be the first time we have seen so many wearing a headscarf - a visual symbol of Muslimness.
I think it's a great achievement to see so many female role models, albeit with controversy from their respective countries. Here are some of the Muslim women who participated in this year's Olympic Games 2012.
Pictured above: "Hey’Ya", Arabic for 'come on!': Arab Women Athletes in Sport are celebrated by Brigitte and Marian Lacombe at London’s Sotheby’s Gallery. Commissioned by Qatar Museums Authority, Hey'Ya is the first exhibition in London by the internationally renowned photographer Brigitte Lacombe with the documentary maker Marian Lacombe, and went on show at Sotheby's London from 25 July - 11 August 2012 in conjunction with the XXX Olympiad in London.
The exhibition featured a brand new series of large-scale photographs by Brigitte Lacombe of more than 50 Arab sportswomen, from beginners to Olympians, from 20 different Arab countries.
Iraq's Rand Saad takes part in women's archery at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Lord's Cricket Ground August 1, 2012. The modest forms of dress have long been a brake on female participation in sport, but restrictions have now been eased. PHOTO: REUTERS
Ibtihaj Muhammad. First Muslim woman to represent the USA at the Olympics in a headscarf.
Watch her whoop 30Mosques creator Aman Ali in this video.
Neda Shahsavari — 25, is Iran's first woman to compete in table tennis at the Olympics, eyeing the ball during a practice session in Tehran in early July. Shahsavari said she was "thrilled" to be going to the London Games.
Sara Mohamed Baraka, 20, and Fatma Rashed, 28, — Egypt, competed in the lightweight double sculls competition at Eton Dorney in Windsor, England. Harry How / Getty Images
Bahya Mansour al-Hamad, 20, — Qatar, competed during a 10-meter air rifle qualification round at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London. Khaled Desouki / AFP/Getty Images
Sarah Attar, 19, — Saudi Arabia, entered the stadium during the Opening Ceremonies in smiles. The track athlete was to participate in the women’s 800 meters. Women from Saudi Arabia had not participated in the games until 2012.
Judo Olympic competitor Abdulrahim Shaherkani had signed an agreement with Saudi Olympics officials that she could compete only if she wears ‘correct and approved' clothing that sticks to Islamic principles.
Players of the Iranian women's national soccer team wept after withdrawing from their qualifying match against Jordan for the 2012 London Olympic Games in Amman, Jordan, June 3, 2011 (Ali Jarekji/Courtesy Reuters).
Despite lasting just a dozen strides before pulling up injured in her 100m heart, Noor Hussain Al-Malki, was the fourth female athlete from Qatar to enter the Olympics and gain public attention.
Wojdan Shaherkani, Saudi Arabia, has been making headlines when it was announced that she would be one of the first two Saudi female athletes to compete at the Olympics.
Egypt's Eman Gaber (right) and teammate Rana El Husseiny wearing the hijab take off their helmets during round 16 of the women's team foil fencing match at the London 2012 Olympic Games. August 2, 2012. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
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