Loading ...Arab Athletes at the Olympics
By Nate Fox / Arab America Contributing Writer
Despite various challenges, Arabs have proved themselves at the highest level of competition. They won 17 medals at the Paris Olympics, competing in a diverse array of sports, including track, lifting, gymnastics, boxing, fencing, football, taekwondo, and modern pentathlon.
Algeria
Algeria brought back three medals from Paris this year, including a bronze and two golds. With perhaps the most controversial appearance, Imane Khelif won the women’s 66kg boxing division. As a child, Khelif sold bread on the street to pay for her training. She now represents her country on the world stage, and while she may have fallen victim to some baseless claims, hopefully, her legacy will be better remembered for her gold medal. Kaylia Nemour brought home another gold in gymnastics for Algeria. While she was born in France, she chose to represent her father’s homeland, the Jijel Province in Algeria. Djamel Sedjati brought home a bronze in the 800m despite a calf injury. He is the fifth fastest man in history at this distance, born and raised in Algeria.
Bahrain
Bahrain earned four medals at this year’s Olympics, including two golds, a silver, and one bronze. Winfred Yavi, born in Iten, Kenya, competed twice before in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. This year, she represented Bahrain and brought home the gold, as well as setting the record in the 3000-meter steeplechase. Akhmed Tazhudinov, born in Russia, dominated the 97kg wrestling division at this year’s Olympics. Salwa Eid Naser is another athlete born in Nigeria who represented Bahraini. She was the 2019 world champion, setting the third fastest time in history, and brought home the silver at this year’s Olympics. Gor Minasyan competed in the super-heavyweight category at this year’s Olympics and has done so since 2010. He was born in Armenia and brought home the bronze from Paris this year.
Egypt
Egypt has the most medals of any Arab country and brought home three at this year’s Olympics, including gold, silver, and bronze. Ahmed Elgendy made history, becoming the first athlete from Africa to win gold in the pentathlon. He competed once before winning the silver in Japan in 2020. Sara Samir, born in Egypt, competed in the women’s 81kg weightlifting category and brought home the silver. Mohamed El-Sayed competed in fencing. He won the gold at the Mediterranean Games in 2022 and brought home the bronze from Paris this year.
Jordan
Zaid Kareem of Jordan won a medal in the 68kg taekwondo division at the Olympics. In 2023, he won the gold medal at the President’s Cup, which was dedicated to the people of Gaza. He earned himself a silver medal at this year’s Olympics.
Morocco
Morocco won two medals at this year’s Olympics, including gold and bronze. Two-time Olympian Soufiane El Bakkali won gold in the 3000-meter steeplechase, making him the third Arab to win double gold as world record holder. Morocco also brought home the only medal in a team sport, with their football team taking bronze.
Qatar
Former Olympic and world champion Mutaz Barsham brought home a bronze for Qatar in the high jump.
Tunisia
Tunisia won three medals in 2024, including gold, silver, and bronze. Firaas Ktaoussi competed in the 80kg division, setting two records and winning the first gold for Tunisia and the first in taekwondo. Fares Ferjani, a three-time Olympian, brought home a silver in fencing for Tunisia. Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi won silver in 2020 and bronze in Paris this year.
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