Egyptian Fencer Nada Hafez Makes History at Paris 2024 Olympics While Seven Months Pregnant
Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez made headlines and possibly history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by revealing that she competed while seven months pregnant. The 26-year-old athlete, participating in her third Olympics, shared her inspiring journey on Instagram just hours after her elimination from the women's individual sabre competition.
Competing with Courage
- First Match Victory: Hafez, hailing from Cairo, won her first match against Elizabeth Tartakovsky of the United States with a score of 15-13. This victory marked a significant achievement in her Olympic journey.
- Elimination in Last 16: Despite her strong start, Hafez was knocked out in the last 16 by South Korea’s Jeon Hayoung, who defeated her 15-7 at the Grand Palais in Paris.
Personal Announcement and Challenges
- Instagram Revelation: After her elimination, Hafez took to Instagram to share her unique experience, stating, “What appears to you as two players on the podium, they were actually three! It was me, my competitor, and my yet-to-come to our world little baby!” She expressed immense pride in her accomplishment.
- Physical and Emotional Challenges: Hafez detailed the challenges of competing while pregnant, saying, “My baby and I had our fair share of challenges. The rollercoaster of pregnancy is tough on its own, but having to fight to keep the balance of life and sports was nothing short of strenuous, however worth it.”
Support and Inspiration
- Family Support: Hafez credited her husband, Ibrahim Ihab, and her family for their unwavering support, which enabled her to compete at such a high level while expecting. “I’m lucky to have shared the trust of my husband and that of my family to be able to come this far,” she wrote.
- Olympic Journey: The Paris Olympics marked Hafez’s third appearance, following her participations in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2020. While she had not advanced past the Round of 32 in her previous Olympic endeavors, this time, she made it to the Round of 16.
Empowering Egyptian Women
- Message to the Nation: In response to the reactions to her reveal, Hafez posted a story on Instagram stating that her intention was to highlight the strength and perseverance of Egyptian women. She said, “To my beloved nation, when I mentioned my pregnancy it was to shed light on the strength, perseverance, and relentlessness of the Egyptian woman. And by winning against the American champion who’s ranked 7th in the world, it is a clear victory and demonstration of what an Egyptian athlete, doctor, and most of all, woman can do.”
- Inspiration to Others: Hafez emphasized that she is not the only athlete to have competed while pregnant, mentioning that many other international champions have done the same as long as there were no medical restraints. She concluded, “I’m so proud of representing Egypt in the Olympics and showing what Egyptian women are capable of!”
For more updates on Nada Hafez and other athletes, follow [Egyptian Streets].
