Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez has gained all the attention and love of the world when she revealed her pregnancy on social media. Hafez took to her social media and revealed her pregnancy after her performance in the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024.
Fencing is often hailed as one of the most elegant yet physically challenging sports in the world. This sport is known for its combination of strategy, speed, and agility. Besides a unique blend of athleticism, the sport also requires mental acuity.
In a mind-blowing turn of events, the Egyptian fencer competed in her third Olympic games at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024 a whole 7-months pregnant. Nada Hafez, who is 26 years old, won her first game in the women’s individual fencing event against USA’s Elizabeth Tartakovsky by 15-13. Nada then faced South Korea’s Jeon Hayoung in the round of 16 but was knocked out.
Nada Hafez waited until the right moment to announce the big news of her pregnancy, and the news couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time. Nada took to her official Instagram account and penned a heartfelt post, wherein she announced the big news. She also acknowledged the support she got from her husband and her family in her journey so far. She 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! ❤️”
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Meanwhile, female athletes in general have to deal with the stigma surrounding their performance and pay – especially when it’s linked to childbirth. However, there have been a few inspiring women like Nada Hafez, who have left a mark with their performance, while breaking the stigma.
Here, in this article, we bring you a list of all the female players, who have won medals at the Olympic Games while pregnant. Have a look:
Anky van Grunsven (2004):
Anky van Grunsven is a name synonymous with courage. She is the only rider in history to have won 3 individual Olympic titles in a row. Anky, who is from the Netherlands, was 5 months pregnant when she competed in the 2004 Summer Games held in Athens, where she won the individual gold award for her terrific performance.
Kerri Walsh Jennings (2012):
Kerri is hailed as one of the best beach volleyball players of all time. She won a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Games in London when she was five weeks pregnant with her youngest child, which was also her third consecutive Olympic title for the USA.
Kerstin Szymkowiak (2010):
Kerstin Szymkowiak, who is from Germany, won a silver medal in skeleton while being two months pregnant at the Winter Olympics 2010, which were held in Vancouver.
Kim Rhode (2012):
Another fearless competitor at the Olympics, who made everyone a fan of her with her stellar performances. During her glorious career, Kin has won six medals, including three golds, in six consecutive Olympic games. She won a gold in the 2012 Summer Games in London, while pregnant.
Elinor Barker (2020):
British cyclist Elinor Barker revealed that she was pregnant when she won the silver medal for the track cycling team event in 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. In an interview, Elinor revealed that she learned that she was pregnant just days before her race and the timing was stressful for her.
Amelie Kober (2006):
The stunning snowboarded from Germany left a mark on the world with her stunning performance and won a silver medal at the 2006 Turin, Italy Winter Olympic Games while being two months pregnant. Despite a brutal fall in the quarterfinals, Amelie became the youngest snowboarder ever to medal at the Olympic Games.
The super-talented Amelie Kober also serves as a German Federal Police Officer.
Martina Valcepina (2014):
The short-track speed skater, Martina Valcepina inspired many when she won a bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Games held in Sochi, Russia. She was pregnant at that time with not just one baby but twins.
