Come the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the United States will be represented by its first ever athlete in a hijab.

Ibtihaj Muhammad will make history as she vies for an Olympic medal for the country's fencing team. But as early as now, it seems like some people already have some problem with her donning the traditional Muslim headscarf.

Ibtihaj Muhammad was Asked to Remove Her Hijab at the SXSW

Muhammad was told by one of the volunteers during the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas to remove her hijab before she could secure her identification badge during the registration.

The event staff was so bent on making the Muslim American athlete get rid of her head covering that he insisted even after Muhammad told him that it was for religious purposes. "Even after I explained it was for religious reasons, he insisted I had to remove my hijab," Muhammad also posted on her Twitter. And to add insult to injury, Muhammad was also issued the wrong identification card after the incident. Her new ID bore the name of some Tamir Muhammad, who is an employee from Time Warner, Inc.

SXSW Issued an Apology

The SXSW organizers have already issued a statement regarding the incident, where they expressed their regret. They also said that they have reached out to Muhammad to personally apologize. The volunteer was also relieved of his duties from the event.

"It is not our policy that a hijab or any religious head covering be removed in order to pick up a SXSW badge," the organizers said in a statement. "This was one volunteer who made an insensitive request and that person has been removed for the duration of the event. We are embarrassed by this and have apologized to Ibtihaj in person, and sincerely regret this incident."

Muhammad, who hails from New Jersey, earned the right to represent the United States in the upcoming Rio games after she made a podium finish in the Women's Sabre World Cup. She also played fencing during her time in college at the Duke University. She was introduced to the sport when she was 13 years old.

"I want to compete in the Olympics for the United States to prove that nothing should hinder anyone from reaching their goals -- not race, religion or gender. I want to set an example that anything is possible with perseverance," she said.