Olympics

Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez reveals she competed at Paris Olympics while 7 months pregnant

By
Associated Press
Published July 31, 2024, 12:34 a.m. ET

PARIS ā€” šŸ§œEgyptian fencer Nada Hafez has revealed that she fought at the Paris Olympics while seven months pregnant.

Hafez posted on Instagram that sšŸŽhe was  hours after sheź§‹ had reached the round of 16 in womenā€™s saber Monday.

The 26-year-old fencer from Cairo upset šŸøElizabeth Tartakovsky of the United States, a former NCAA champion, before losing to Jeon Hayoung of South Korea.

Nada Hafez of Team Egypt applauds fans after her victory 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.
Nada Hafez of Team Egypt applauds fans after her victory 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. Getty Images
Nada Hafez revealed she is 7 months pregnant as she competed in Paris.
Nada Hafez revealed she is 7 months pregnant as she competed in Paris. AP
Nada Hafez of Team Egypt (L) and Elizabeth Tartakovsky of Team United States (R) compete 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.
Nada Hafez of Team Egypt (L) and Elizabeth Tartakovsky of Team United States (R) compete in the Fencing Women’s Sabre Individual Table of 32 on day three of the Olympic Games on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. Getty Images

ā€œMy baby & I had our fair share of challenges, be it both physical & emotional,ā€ Hafez wrote. ā€œThe rollercoaster of prešŸ¦„gnancy is tough on its own, but having tošŸ° fight to keep the balance of life & sports was nothing short of strenuous, however worth it. Iā€™m writing this post to say that pride fills my being for securing my place in the round of 16!ā€

A former gymnast with a degree in medicine, Hafez is a three-time Olympian who won golšŸ¬d medals in the indiź¦Ævidual and team saber events at the 2019 African Games. She finished Mondayā€™s competition officially ranked 16th, her best result in any of her three Olympic appearances.