Fencer Nada Hafez Reveals She Competed in 2024 Paris Olympics While 7 Months Pregnant: ‘I’m Lucky’
“What appears to you as two players on the podium, they were actually three!” Hafez shared on Instagram
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Nada Hafez of Team Egypt applauds fans after her victory against Elizabeth Tartakovsky of Team United States (not pictured) in the Fencing Women's Sabre Individual Table of 32 on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Grand Palais on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France.Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez revealed that she completed her 2024 Paris Olympics run — all while seven months pregnant.
Hafez, 26, who made her way to the final 16 in the women's saber individual competition, announced that she had accomplished the feat while expecting her first child with husband Ibrahim Ihab, whom she married in March 2023.
“7 MONTHS PREGNANT OLYMPIAN!,” she wrote on Instagram alongside a set of photos after she competed in the event. In the photos, she could be seen breaking down in tears and waving to the crowd as she made her final appearance.
“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!” she continued.
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The athlete added that she had her own “fair share of challenges,” that were both “physical” and "emotional” throughout the event due to the pregnancy, but powered through it to accomplish what she did.
“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,” Hafez noted. “I’m writing this post to say that pride fills my being for securing my place in the round of 16!”
“I’m lucky to have shared the trust of my husband @ibrahimihab11 and that of my family to be able to come this far,” she added.
She went on to note that this specific Olympic games would forever be a special memory for her because of the special “little Olympian” that she was able to share it with.
“This specific Olympics was different; Three times *Olympian* but this time carrying a little Olympian one! ❤️,” she concluded.
Carl Recine/Getty
Nada Hafez of Team Egypt applauds fans after her victory against Elizabeth Tartakovsky of Team United States (not pictured) in the Fencing Women's Sabre Individual Table of 32 on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Grand Palais on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France.Hafez beat USA’s Elizabeth Tartakovsky to make it to the top 16 before being defeated by South Korea’s Jeon Hayoung on Monday, July 29, according to ABC News.
Her latest Olympics showing was her most successful, as she previously competed in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, placing 36th and 29th, respectively, according to CBS News.
Hafez was also fortunate as the Paris Olympic games also had a nursery in the Olympic Village, the first for an Olympic Games, according to ABC News and Associated Press.
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