“I thought of my baby, that I want my baby to be Olympian.”
It was the additional motivation of which Egyptian shooter Nada Hafez needed when she went to the track in Paris 2024.
Only a few selected knew that she was in competition when she was seven months pregnant until she reveals the news on social networks after her release from the last 16 people from her event.
He made headlines from around the world.
The Tourbillon reaction was as if Hafez had known before.
“I was just published on my personal account – proud, saying that I am in the top 16 of the world during pregnancy,” said Hafez at BBC Sport Africa.
“I did not expect it to become viral. I did not know what was going on.”
The 27 -year -old man says that the majority of responses to his message were positive.
“When the post increased and I was an inspiration for everyone, it was a great thing for me.”
Hafez, who is a clinical pathologist, says that she had received authorization from doctors at game fences and wanted to show the world what a woman’s body can do.
“It was a really important message for me – an Egyptian Arab woman – to tell all women that your body can surprise you,” she said.
“Sometimes you have to see an example in front of you to know that you can do it.
“Because maybe a pregnant woman, she is afraid of doing anything, and now she says to herself:” There is a woman who participates in the Olympic Games during pregnancy. So I can do all “.”
But not everyone has so favorable to Hafez revealing that she closed in the individual saber of women at the big palace while wearing a baby.
A day later, Hafez published another Instagram publication to emphasize that she was not the first pregnant woman to appear at Olympic Games and that she had wanted to “shed light on strength, perseverance and restraint “Egyptian women.
This force became in the foreground during online negativity.
“Some people don’t want you to succeed,” she said.
“It’s easy to comment and run. You did not face me.
“I wanted to specify that I am a doctor and that that (in competition during pregnancy) is something that is against no medical problems.
“Some people said that I should have given someone else’s place. But it was not an option because I qualified myself.
“My mother said to me” don’t be sad if you read anything “- but I’m proud of what I did. I did something and it was very difficult.”
Fencing being a combat sport using swords, could it have caused negative comments?
“For me, fencing is not as it looks – she has this feeling of contact. My doctor assured me that it was not dangerous.”
Erased by doctors to follow the dream of Paris fencing
Hafez Cairo based,, Who continued his passion for fencing by studying for her medicine diploma, became an Egyptian saber champion and went to the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 games.
So, being qualified for Paris 2024, she considered to retire when she discovered that she was pregnant?
“Yes, of course. I knew I was pregnant a week before a World Cup [event]And I said: “Okay, I don’t risk it because this is my first pregnancy”, “she said.
“I didn’t know what I would feel.
“I was waiting for my husband [a cardiothoracic surgeon] To tell me to stop and rest. But he said to me, “We are going to the doctor. Whatever he says, we will do.
“And the doctor said,” You don’t have a disease. You are just pregnant. If you are well and everything is normal, you can do what you want. “”
With this insurance, Hafez felt ready to resume training.
Aware of the spotlights falling on her nation if the news came, she kept her as silent as she could.
“I did not have to say it to anyone, because it is not against the Olympic regulations,” she said.
“I just said to people who needed to know. The most important thing was not to go against laws or health problems.
“I did not know if I would, so I did it step by step until I reach the Olympic Games.”
The National Olympic Committee of Egypt told BBC Sport Africa that he had no rule prohibiting pregnant women from training or participating.
“But it must be a safe environment and we must make sure that there is no risk,” said a manager.
Stimulated in Paris by its “Olympic baby”
Now a four -month -old baby mother Zaina, Hafez can think about the role that her daughter played in her achievements in Paris.
“I worked with my mental coach. I wanted to do something different for my baby,” she said.
“I tried not to think that I have my excuse not to win. I thought differently:” I am pregnant and I will win “, and I did it.”
Hafez continued to upset the seventh seeded, Elizabeth Tartakovsky, 15-13.
“This is one of the best results for Egyptian Olympian women,” added Hafez.
“I cried with happiness. This is something that my baby is proud of.”
She then lost 15-7 against Jeon Hayoung from South Korea in the last 16.
None of his opponents knew that Hafez was waiting.
“It’s unfair if someone knows it. Maybe he would be afraid of putting contact or something, so no need to say.”
To be a “put my heart on fire” model
Hafez, who studies for a master’s degree alongside being a new mother, aims to use her platform to defend women’s rights in sport.
She has not yet decided if she wanted to try to qualify for Los Angeles 2028.
For the moment, she always treats what she has achieved in Paris.
“The young girls said to me,” You have inspired us so much. We want to go to the medical school and continue in sport “”, she said.
“And it made me the happiest.
“Whenever I receive a message from anyone tells me that I am a model, it sets fire to my heart – because that’s what I work all my life.
“I’m still young. I live to do more and to be a good example as a mom.
“I hope my daughter will one day be Olympian. She is an Olympian baby – and maybe she will be an adult Olympian.”
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