Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez unveils she's competing at Olympics while seven months pregnant

It’s hard enough just to get to the Olympics. Simply qualifying is an impressive feat for nearly any athlete, going up against some of the best in the world at their respective sports. But Egyptian fencer Nada Hafez took things to new levels rarely seen before. On Wednesday evening, she announced in an Instagram post that she is seven months pregnant.

Hafez beat American Elizabeth Tartakovsky 15-13 in the first round of the women’s individual saber. She then fell 15-7 to South Korean Jeon Hayoung in the round of 16.

In her emotional social media post, she wrote: “7 MONTHS PREGANT OLYMPIAN!”

“What appears to you as two players on the podium, they were actually three! It was me, my competitor, and 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!” Hafez wrote.

“I’m lucky to have shared the trust of my husband 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!” she finished.

Hafez’s child is the first for both herself and her husband, Ibarahim Ihab, who got married in 2023. The Paris Olympics actually featured a first-ever nursery in the Olympic village this year, for the athletes and their infant children. The nursery offers a place for playtime and family bonding, while also offering other private services.

A dynamic athlete Hafez was also an Egyptian national champion in gymnastics. She attended Cairo University, earning her degree in medicine. Then she went on to become a clinical pathologist. She’s a woman of many accomplishments.

Even outside of the Olympics, for her to become a national champion in gymnastics, plus to become a clinical pathologist is pretty impressive stuff. Truly a woman of many talents. Her story is a pretty unbelievable one and a feat that will be extremely difficult for any athlete to accomplish in the future.