Egyptian Fencer Nada Hafez celebrates first Olympic victory while revealing her pregnancy
PARIS: Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez had a double reason to celebrate on Monday after achieving her first victory at an Olympics in the women’s sabre event while being seven months pregnant. The 26-year-old, competing in her third Olympics, secured a thrilling 15-13 win over American world number 10 Elizabeth Tartakovsky before bowing out in the round of 16 with a 15-7 defeat to South Korea’s Jeon Hayoung at the Grand Palais.
Hafez took to Instagram to express her pride, not just for her performance but also for competing while expecting her baby. “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 wrote.
Her achievement is all the more remarkable given the physical and mental challenges of competing at an elite level while pregnant. “I’m writing this post to say that pride fills my being for securing my place in the round of 16 … this specific Olympics was different. Three times Olympian but this time carrying a little Olympian one!” Hafez shared.
