Olympians inspire crowd at NYU Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: Olympic athletes Michelle Kwan – two-time Olympic medalist, five-time world champion and nine-time US champion in figure skating – and Ibtihaj Mohammad – the first Muslim-American athlete to represent the United States in a hijab and take home the bronze in fencing – on Thursday met with students, faculty, and staff, and offered remarks to a crowd of nearly 200 at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) about diversity, perseverance, and inclusion in sports.

The athletes shared anecdotes from their time at the Olympics, highlighting the importance of perseverance and the remarkable feeling of being a part of the Special Olympics family as well as the greater role that sport holds in bringing communities, and people, together.

NYU Abu Dhabi Vice-Chancellor Alfred Bloom and Associate Vice-Chancellor, Global Education and Outreach and Vice Provost Carol Brandt also offered remarks on NYUAD’s pride at being a host venue for the Special Olympics.

The UAE Special Olympics team was in attendance and asked questions and engaged with the two Olympians in advance of the start of the team’s own performance at the Special Olympics MENA Games next week.