Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez, 26, made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by competing in the women’s sabre event while seven months pregnant. Hafez, participating in her third Olympic Games, reached the round of 16, marking her best Olympic performance to date.In her opening match, Hafez upset world No. 10 Elizabeth Tartakovsky of the United States with a score of 15-13. She was eventually eliminated by South Korean fencer Jeon Ha-Young in the round of 16.After the competition, Hafez revealed her pregnancy on social media, writing, ‘You thought you saw two athletes on the track, but there were actually three! Me, my competitor, and my future newborn baby!’. She expressed pride in her achievement, stating, ‘My baby and I have faced physical and emotional challenges. The ups and downs of pregnancy are already difficult to manage, but having to fight to maintain the balance of life and sport was really tough, but it was worth it.’ Hafez, who is also a medical graduate and clinical pathology specialist, credited her husband, Ibrahim Ihab, and her family for their support. She emphasized that her participation aimed to highlight the strength and perseverance of Egyptian women.While her achievement has been widely praised, Hafez’s decision to compete while pregnant has also sparked some controversy and criticism on social media. In response, Hafez defended her choice, stating, ‘I’m not the only athlete who has competed while pregnant. There are many other international athletes who have been active while pregnant. There are no medical obstacles to stop them.’ Hafez’s remarkable feat at the Paris Olympics has captured global attention, inspiring athletes and women worldwide while also raising discussions about pregnancy and high-level athletic competition.
Key points
- Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics while seven months pregnant.
- Hafez reached the round of 16 in women’s sabre, her best Olympic performance to date.
- She revealed her pregnancy after the competition, sparking global attention and discussions about pregnancy in high-level sports.
- Hafez’s decision to compete while pregnant has been both praised and criticized.
Contradictions👾There is a slight discrepancy in Hafez’s age, with most sources stating she is 26, while one source reports her as 27.
👾Some sources refer to Hafez reaching the quarterfinals, while others specify she reached the round of 16, which may be due to different ways of describing the same stage of the competition.
