Angelica Bengtsson: Pole Vault's Rising Star

At just 19 years old, Angelica Bengtsson has won all the major age-group single titles.

The World Youth Champion from 2009, Bengtsson had topped the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore two years ago. Despite being just 17-years old, she also won gold at the World Junior Championships in Moncton the same year - a title which she successfully defended in Barcelona a few days back. Angelica is also the reigning European Junior Champion.

She has a personal best of 4.58m outdoors and 4.63m indoors. Indeed, Bengtsson is the future of pole vaulting. 

Dalma Rushdi Malhas (SAU, Equestrian)

In Saudi Arabia, "women cannot drive, marry, leave the country, go to school or open bank accounts without permission from a male guardian." Saudi Arabia, in fact, prohibits women from taking part in sports. It is certainly groundbreaking for such a conservative country to have a female representative to the Olympics.

Read: "Saudi women allowed in Olympics for the first time"

Dalma in action. (Photo from Sky News)

Dalma Rushdi Malhas is world-class equestrienne. She originally held Palestinian citizenship, but has obtained a Saudi Arabian passport. The American-born Malhas, according to recent news articles, was pitted to be Saudi Arabia's first female Olympian. However, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) came out with a statement saying that the 20-year, in fact, has not qualified for the London Games. 

Read: "Pioneering Saudi woman to miss Games"

Malhas's mother was herself a renowned equestrienne.Dalma was exposed to horses at an early age. It wasn't surprising for the young Dalma to follow the same path. Malhas made history in 2010, when she competed - and won bronze - at the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. 

Read: "Dalma Malhas breaks barrier with a winning ride"

Regardless of whether she competes in London or not, Dalma Rushdi Malhas is a beacon for women's rights, not just in Saudi Arabia, but to the rest of the world.

Sources:

Dalma's Wikipedia profile

Bangkok Post article

Washington Post article

Indian Muslim Observer article