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First female Olympian from Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's Wojdan Shaherkani, in white, faces Puerto Rico's Melissa Mojica in judo.

Saudi Arabia’s Wojdan Shaherkani, in white, faces Puerto Rico’s Melissa Mojica in judo.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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On Friday, 16-year-old Wojdan Shaherkani became the first Saudi Arabian woman allowed to compete in the Olympics. She lost a preliminary judo match to Puerto Rico’s Melissa Mojica.

Wojdan Shaherkani

Saudi Arabia’s Wojdan Shaherkani after her historic judo match.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Wojdan Shaherkani

Saudi Arabia’s Wojdan Shaherkani is the first Saudi female to compete in the Olympics. A second woman is entered in the 800-meter-run.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Wojdan Shaherkani

Wojdan Shaherkani of Saudi Arabia had no chance against Mojica Melissa of Puerto Rico.  (Orestis Panagiotou / EPA)

Wojdan Shaherkani

The Olympic judo match was the first official competition for Sadui Arabia’s Wojdan Shaherkani, in white.  (Quinn Rooney / Getty Images)

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