Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez revealed that she competed at the Paris Olympics on Monday while seven months pregnant.
The 26-year-old secured a victory in her first match in the women’s individual sabre competition but was eliminated in the last 16.
“What appears to you as two players on the podium, they were actually three! It was me, my competitor, and my yet-to-come-to-our-world little baby!” Hafez shared in an Instagram post.
Hafez, hailing from Cairo and making her third Olympic appearance, expressed immense pride in competing while expecting.
She triumphed over Elizabeth Tartakovsky of the United States with a score of 15-13 before losing 15-7 to Jeon Hayoung of South Korea at the Grand Palais in Paris.
“My baby and I faced our fair share of challenges, both physical and emotional,” she said. “The rollercoaster of pregnancy is tough on its own, but balancing life and sports was exceptionally strenuous, yet worth it. I’m fortunate to have had the support of my husband, Ibrahim Ihab, and my family to reach this point.”
Smith Strikes Gold for Africa
Hafez’s revelation came just hours before Tatjana Smith won Africa’s first gold medal of the Paris 2024 Games. The South African athlete triumphed in the women’s 100m breaststroke.
The 27-year-old, who qualified fastest for the final, delivered a strong second length to win her third Olympic medal, finishing with a time of one minute and 5.28 seconds at La Defense Arena.
“It took a village to get me where I am today,” Smith said. “I swam for everyone who has supported and believed in me, and for my country as well.”
Smith had previously won silver in the 100m breaststroke and gold in the 200m breaststroke in Tokyo, competing under her maiden name, Schoenmaker.
“There is always something to learn from every race,” she reflected. “For me, after Tokyo, I focused on my own race. I gave it my best and am grateful to walk away with the gold medal.”
Smith, from Johannesburg, will start defending her 200m breaststroke title on Wednesday morning.
Compatriot Coetze Finishes Fifth
However, Peter Coetze faced disappointment in the pool, finishing fifth in the men’s 100m backstroke final despite setting a new African record of 52.58 seconds.
Earlier on Monday, South Africa’s Alan Hatherly won bronze in the men’s mountain bike cross-country race. The 28-year-old, who finished eighth in Tokyo three years ago, crossed the line 11 seconds behind gold medallist Tom Pidcock of Great Britain and two seconds behind second-placed Victor Koretzky of France.
South Africa leads Africa’s medal table on Day 3 of the Games, with one gold and two bronzes. Tunisia has a silver from Fares Ferjani in the men’s individual sabre, while Mohamed Elsayed won bronze for Egypt in the men’s individual epee on Sunday.
Reported By BBC Sports.
