As a young girl growing up in the Middle East, she faced criticism and scrutiny for being a woman in sports.

However, her family's support and determination to excel in a discipline not commonly practised by Arab women propelled her to the top of the world rankings.

Al-Sadeq, now 28, made history by becoming the first Jordanian and Arab woman to be ranked world number one following her victory at the Saudi Grand Prix in December 2022 - a result which boosted her chances of qualifying for a second successive Olympics in Paris.

"I believe that God put me in this place to break the stereotype, to show all societies that girls can play a combat sport, girls can wear a hijab and fight," the two-time Asian gold medallist told Olympics.com from Amman.

"Girls can inspire other girls to take the step and follow their dream, to practise the sport they love, not just taekwondo."

Al-Sadeq made her name internationally in 2018, when she won at the Asian Games in Jakarta and took silver in the Asian Championships.

She followed up by winning the Asian Championships in 2021 and 2022.

At her first Olympics - the Tokyo 2020 Games postponed until 2021 - Al-Sadeq's photo went viral because of her perceived resemblance to American musician Lady Gaga. 

The likeness, though flattering, gained her traction online and followers on her social media platforms.

Meanwhile, at the Olympics, she reached the round of 16.

"I grew up in an athletic family, where all of us practiced taekwondo," she said. "In the beginning, I used to receive criticism from people for the fact that I'm a female who plays a combat sport.

"The criticism was because I look quite girly, it was always 'you look too soft how can you be a taekwondoka?'"

Inspired by her older brother Yazan Al Sadeq’s success at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, she even dropped gymnastics, which she'd practised in her early childhood, to concentrate on taekwondo.

And despite failing to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics, where her compatriot Ahmad Abughaush won Jordan’s first Olympic medal as he won gold in the men's under-68 kg tournament, Al-Sadeq pushed on to reach the unique position of world number one.