For Muslim-American fencer, Olympic goal extends beyond medals

Mar 9, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USA fencing athlete Ibtihaj Muhammad poses for a portrait during the 2016 Team USA Media Summit at Beverly Hilton. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (Reuters) - U.S. fencing powerhouse Ibtihaj Muhammad is no stranger to sabre rattling, so when the Muslim-American athlete heard Donald Trump threaten to ban Muslims from U.S. shores, it only steeled her resolve to return home with a medal from the Rio Olympics.

Muhammad will make history in Rio as the first U.S. Olympian to represent her country wearing a hijab. It's not an honour she takes lightly, in part because of what she perceives as growing anti-Muslim rhetoric among some Americans, stoked by Trump.