Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez made global headlines during the Paris 2024 Olympics, not just for her impressive performance but for the extraordinary circumstances under which she competed. At seven months pregnant, Hafez took to the piste in the women’s individual sabre event, driven by a powerful motivation: her unborn child.
“I was thinking about my baby, that I want my baby to be an Olympian,” Hafez shared with BBC Sport Africa. This thought became her extra source of inspiration as she faced some of the world’s top fencers.
Hafez kept her pregnancy private during the competition, revealing it only after her last-16 exit on social media. The announcement sparked a whirlwind of reactions, with her story quickly going viral.
“I was just posting on my personal account, proud to say I made it to the top 16 in the world while pregnant,” Hafez explained. “I didn’t expect it to go viral. I didn’t know what was going on.”
The 27-year-old clinical pathologist received overwhelming support, with many praising her as an inspiration. “When the post went up, and I saw how many people were inspired, it meant so much to me,” she said.
Hafez emphasized that she had received medical clearance to compete and wanted to challenge stereotypes about what a woman’s body is capable of. “This was a really important message for me an Egyptian Arab woman to tell all women that your body can surprise you,” she stated. “Sometimes you need to see an example to believe you can do it. Now, pregnant women can say, ‘If she can compete at the Olympics, I can do anything.'”
Her journey wasn’t without challenges. Hafez faced criticism from some who questioned her decision to compete while pregnant. In response, she took to Instagram to clarify her position, noting that she wasn’t the first pregnant athlete to compete at the Olympics and that her goal was to highlight the strength and resilience of Egyptian women.
“Some people don’t want to see you succeed,” Hafez reflected. “It’s easy to leave a negative comment and hide behind a screen. But I wanted to make it clear that I’m a doctor, and competing while pregnant wasn’t against any medical advice.”
She also addressed concerns about fencing being a combat sport. “Fencing isn’t as dangerous as it looks it’s about precision and control. My doctor assured me it was safe,” she explained.
Despite the criticism, Hafez remained proud of her achievement. “My mum told me not to be sad if I read anything negative. I’m proud of what I did. I achieved something incredible, and it was a huge challenge.”
Nada Hafez’s story is a testament to determination, breaking barriers, and redefining what’s possible for women in sports. Her courage has inspired countless individuals worldwide, proving that with strength and perseverance, anything is achievable.
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