Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez made headlines at the Paris 2024 Olympics by competing while seven months pregnant. Hafez, 26, triumphed over USA’s Elizabeth Tartakovsky in the first round of the women’s individual sabre competition before being eliminated by Jeon Hayoung of the Republic of Korea.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Hafez revealed her remarkable journey: “7 MONTHS PREGNANT OLYMPIAN! What appears to you as two players on the podium, they were actually three! It was me, my competitor, & my yet-to-come to our world, little baby!”
Reflecting on her experience, Hafez shared, “My baby & I had our fair share of challenges, be it both physical & emotional. The rollercoaster of pregnancy is tough on its own, but having to fight to keep the balance of life & sports was nothing short of strenuous, however worth it. I’m writing this post to say that pride fills my being for securing my place in the round of 16!”
Grateful for the support from her husband and family, Hafez added, “This specific Olympics was different; three times Olympian but this time carrying a little Olympian one!”
Paris 2024 has been notable for its support of parent athletes, with the introduction of an on-site nursery at the Olympic village. This initiative by the IOC and the Paris 2024 Organising Committee aims to help athletes balance their competition schedules with spending quality time with their young children.
Looking ahead, Hafez may well make use of these facilities should she compete in fencing at the LA28 Olympics in four years’ time.
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