As an Arab-Muslim student-athlete, I am vastly aware of the religious and racial divide between my teammates and I. Even though I consider a lot of them to be my closest friends, there are times when the differences between us are unignorable.
The lack of diversity is not a widely discussed topic in San Marin sports and having my teammates be more conscious about the divide would help me and others feel more comfortable participating in sports.
I realized that since I was used to being one of the only Arab-Muslim students at school, a sports setting would prove to be no different. Feeling left out or different from the people around me is something I experience everyday at school, so I braced myself to experience this when I joined the teams.
The lack of diversity in water polo upset me more than the lack of diversity in swimming. Swimming is more of an individual sport than a team sport, so I never felt much of a connection with my teammates. In water polo, we are constantly around each other and our successes and failures are reflected on the whole team. I wanted my teammates and coaches to highlight our differences and recognize how the people of color felt on the team.
Last year, during the month of Ramadan, I had chosen to continue the swim season while I was fasting. Desserts were provided for swimmers after a meet, so I had to sit there while my teammates had various sweet treats provided for them. Because of this, I felt like I couldn’t relate to any of the other players except for one boy who also participated in Ramadan.
I also choose to wear swim leggings under my suit to follow my religious beliefs, and I get frequent questions from both my teammates and parents alike. I was asked by multiple girls why I wasn’t wearing shorts on a particularly hot day or if my swim leggings slowed me down in the pool. I knew none of my teammates meant it in any ill will, but it still saddened me that they didn’t understand.
Although I don’t regret any of the things I do for my religion, and these are choices I choose to make, I wish there was more support and accommodations for me and students like me. I know it isn’t anyone’s intention to isolate me, but the disconnection will always be there.
