Competed in the Olympics While Pregnant!
The Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez, 26, competed while seven months pregnant in the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she reached the round of 16 in the sabre category.
"What looks like two players on the podium to you is actually three! It was me, my opponent, and my baby who hasn't arrived yet!" Hafez wrote on her Instagram account, where she described herself as a "seven-month pregnant Olympian."
In the post, the fencer revealed that during her pregnancy she has had to face "a fair amount of physical and emotional challenges" to compete in the world's most important sporting event.
"The roller coaster of pregnancy is tough on its own, but having to fight to maintain balance between life and sport was an exhausting task, but it was worth it," said the Egyptian, who expressed her pride in having reached the round of 16.
Hafez, also a medical graduate specializing in clinical pathology, advanced to the round of 16 after defeating the American Elizabeth Tartakovsky, the world's number seven, by 15-13, but was eliminated from the competition after losing 15-7 to Jiyoon Hyung of South Korea.
"I am filled with pride for having reached the round of 16 (...) These Olympics were different: three times an Olympian, but this time carrying a little Olympian!" said the fencer, who previously participated in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
