First female Olympian from Saudi Arabia

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

Aug. 3, 2012 5:05 PM PT

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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.

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

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)