Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez has made headlines worldwide after revealing she was seven months pregnant when she competed at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
Hafez announced on her Instagram that she and her unborn baby made it to the round of 16 of the competition in the women’s individual sabre competition. She was eventually knocked out by Jeon Hayoung of Korea.
Hafez, a seasoned Olympian, first showcased her talent at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she finished in 36th place. At the 2020 Tokyo Games, she improved her ranking to 29th.
Now, at 26, Hafez has made her third appearance on the Olympic stage.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Hafez shared her unique experience: “7 MONTHS PREGNANT OLYMPIAN!” she wrote.
“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 spoke openly about balancing pregnancy with the demands of Olympic competition.
“My baby & l had our fair share of challenges, be it both physical & emotional. The roller coaster 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”, she said.
“This specific Olympics was different; Three times Olympian but this time carrying a little Olympian one!”
She also expressed her gratitude to her husband, Ibrahim Ihab, and her family for their support.
“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.
Hafez’s announcement has been met with widespread admiration on social media. X users have praised her incredible achievement.
Twitter has been abuzz with reactions. @YWalmiki tweeted “Nada Hafez's Olympic performance while being 7 months pregnant is a stunning example of combining motherhood and sportsmanship, highlighting her extraordinary determination and the power of the human spirit. God bless her and her baby”.
Another user, @AlexForbesUK, commented, “Congrats to Nada Hafez on her pregnancy and Olympic journey! Such an inspiring story of strength and dedication!”
Some users added a touch of humour. @teenson_007 tweeted, “I guess that makes the baby an Olympian,”
While @Row4gold suggested, “Name her Olympia.”
@RishiRahar also tweeted “That's incredible news! Kudos to the lady. Nada Hafez's announcement is both surprising and inspiring, especially considering she competed so recently. It's a testament to her strength and dedication. Congratulations to her!”