Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez celebrates her first Olympic victory while seven months pregnant, showcasing the strength and perseverance of women in sports.
Paris, Bollywoodfever: Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez had double reason to celebrate after picking up her first victory at the Olympics in the women’s sabre event on Monday, revealing that she did so while seven months pregnant.
The 26-year-old Hafez, competing in her third Olympics, beat American world number 10 Elizabeth Tartakovsky 15-13 before losing 15-7 to Jeon Hayoung of South Korea in the round of 16 at the Grand Palais. Hafez later expressed her pride not only in her performance but also in having competed while expecting her baby.
“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!” Hafez wrote on Instagram. “I’m writing this post to say that pride fills my being for securing my place in the round of 16 … this specific Olympics was different. Three times Olympian but this time carrying a little Olympian one!”
Hafez, who previously competed at the Games in 2016 and 2021, said she revealed the news to “shed light on the strength and perseverance of the Egyptian woman.” She highlighted the challenges of balancing pregnancy with the demands of Olympic-level training and competition.
“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,” Hafez shared.
Her remarkable achievement serves as an inspiring example of dedication and resilience, showing that athletes can continue to pursue their dreams and achieve greatness even in the face of significant personal challenges.
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