Khadija el-Baroud from Eindhoven is a 17-year-old Dutch-Moroccan Taekwondo fighter. In 2009 she became Dutch junior champion. She has had her setbacks since, but now she is firmly focused on her preparations for the coming season and her dream of retaining her national title. Khadija is not only attracting attention because of her impressive performances, but also because she wears an Islamic headscarf.

Khadija reckons she is well accepted, both within the Dutch team and beyond. She's happy to answer anyone who has a question about why she wears a headscarf in the hope that they will understand. It barely registers with her that she's dressed differently to her fellow fighters but she admits to feeling "just a hint of pride" that she has come so far with her headscarf. For Khadija, her team mates and her opponents it simply isn't an issue. And in the middle of a Taekwondo bout, everyone feels the heat, headscarf or no headscarf!