Jamilah, Zaynah, and Latifah McBryde — three devout Muslim sisters from Buffalo, New York — grew up wrestling one another at home and never expected to continue the sport into college because their faith prevented them from competing in standard boys’ teams or wearing singlets that didn’t align with their modesty requirements.

Inspired by Iranian women’s wrestling uniforms, they designed custom gear: long‑sleeved shirts layered atop each other, pants over leggings, and head coverings. Early attempts were “kind of rough” — hijabs slipped off, shirts untucked — until coaches helped them add velcro and tape to secure everything during competition.

In 2022, Latifah qualified for the Pan American Championships but was barred from competing internationally due to United World Wrestling’s rejection of her modest uniform. Yet at the college level coaches at Life University stood behind them, working with NAIA to approve the modified uniform — leading the sisters to join Life that fall and be welcomed into a supportive team culture where teammates respected their prayer times and Ramadan fasting.

Their perseverance paid off: USA Wrestling updated its rules to formally allow modest gear, and the sisters competed nationaly — even fasting during Ramadan. Zaynah and Latifah won championship titles; Jamilah placed second and earned a spot for the U.S. Olympic trials, though UWW later disqualified her again over uniform rules. Still, Latifah reflects: “Even if I don’t ever step on an Olympic stage… if I’ve had a positive effect on one other Muslim girl… then I’ve done my job.”

Source: National Public Radio (NPR)