Born in Jordan, Rima Yacoub excelled in traditional sports like gymnastics, track & field, and badminton before finding her way to combat sports. However, it was never the medals that motivated her. Instead, it was what sport taught her about herself, and what she hopes to share with other girls in her country: “We are strong, we are fearless, we can make our dreams into realities.”

For much of her career, Rima has been the only girl in her jiu-jitsu club, and though it has not been an easy ride, she’s always persevered. “Jiu-jitsu can be an awkward and intimidating environment for many girls,” Rima says. “There are still certain people that will ask me, ‘Why do you do this to yourself? You should’ve gotten married and live a normal life.’ But that’s something that I’ve gotten over. I ignore it.”

In 2020, Rima became the Director of Programs for Reclaim Childhood, an NGO “providing safe and inclusive spaces for refugee and local girls in Jordan to thrive by playing sports, working with coaches, and building community.” She’s also currently ranked first in Jordan as a purple belt jiu-jitsu player.