What makes Sport truly beautiful are the stories that come with it. One such story was recently revealed at the 2024 Paris Olympics by none other than the main character of the story itself. Nada Hafez is a 26-year-old Egyptian Fencer who was recently eliminated in the Round of 16 by Jeon Hayoung of South Korea. But that was only after she delivered a shocking defeat to a former NCAA Champion, Elizabeth Tartakovsky of the United States.
While underdog stories are always eye-catching, there is something else that makes this particular story of a 3-time Olympian fencer from Cairo especially amazing. And the reason behind that is exactly what Nada Hafez decided to surprise the whole world with through her social media following her exit from the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 26-year-old revealed to the world that she was in fact 7-Months Pregnant at the time!
Taking to her Instagram, the Egyptian Fencer wrote, “7 MONTHS PREGNANT OLYMPIAN!
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!
My baby & I had our fair share of challenges, be it both physical & emotional. 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.
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.
This specific Olympics was different; Three times *Olympian* but this time carrying a little Olympian one! ❤️”
Yes, that’s right her baby is literally due in a couple of months and she was still out there representing her country on the biggest stage of them all. If that’s not the definition of a superwoman, what is it? Nada Hafez might not have even qualified for the Quarterfinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but she is by far one of the strongest fighters and competitors present at the Summer Games. The amount of precaution and hardships she must’ve gone through to get here must be truly amazing.
While she may not have won a medal, she surely has won many hearts with her inspiring story. And so, to reiterate, what makes Sports beautiful are the stories that come with them.
