Paris 2024 Olympics: 12 Female Athletes From The MENA Region We’ll Be Cheering For
From the UAE and Bahrain to Saudi and Morocco, these are the female sporting figures on our radar at Paris 2024
The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are here, and excitement is building as nations are getting ready to watch the opening ceremony.
Taking place from Friday, July 26 to Sunday August 11 2024, the prestigious sporting event will see over 10,000 athletes compete in 329 medal events across a range of 32 sports.
The Olympic Games have long been considered the pinnacle of any sportsperson’s career, with stringent qualification rules; many athletes competing for years in order to meet the high-level standards at both regional and international levels.
Now in its 23rd edition, the historical games will ensure gender equality for the first time ever, with 5250 men and 5250 women competing, respectively.
From the Arab region, a number of female sporting figures will proudly be waving their country’s flags at the arenas – and we’ll undoubtedly be cheering them on all the way.
Below, Bazaar Arabia rounds up 12 female athletes from the MENA region to root for at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
12 Female Athletes From The MENA Region We’ll Be Cheer For At The Paris 2024 Olympics
Safiya Al Sayegh, UAE
Hailing from the UAE, Safiya Al Sayegh made history last year when she became the first female cyclist, and just the second rider from the country, to qualify for the Olympics. The young rider is currently a national champion due to her win at the UAE National Championships in 2023, and will be fighting to defend her title at the 2024 contest ahead of the Olympics. She previously formed part of the Dubai Police Pro Cycling Team, before being tapped to join the UAE Team ADQ – the first women’s World Tour professional team in the Middle East, made up of 15 female athletes from around the world. Regardless of her result, we’ll be rooting for her on the exhilarating race to the finish line.
Dunya Aboutaleb, Saudi Arabia
In an historic moment for the KSA, Taewkondo star Dunya Aboutaleb became the first female Saudi national to qualify for the Olympics. Her qualification came through the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament in Tai’an China earlier this year, following a stellar performance on a number of global stages throughout the 2023 season. The epitome of talent in Saudi’s blossoming women in sport movement, we’ll definitely be keeping our eyes on Dunya Aboutaleb as she tackles the women’s 49 kg event at Grand Palais strip in August.
Winfred Yavi, Bahrain
Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete, Winfred Yavi, specialises in the 3000 metre steeple-chase, and will be representing the Arab nation at the upcoming Olympics. In 2015, she relocated to Bahrain at the tender of age 15, becoming eligible to represent the nation the following year. Now 24 years old, Winfred will be battling it out with formidable contenders in Paris to take home the title of the nail-biting obstacle race.
Salwa Eid Nasr, Bahrain
Salwa Eid Nasr will be representing Bahrain in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Nigerian-born sprinter specialises in the 400 metre race, and was previously a world champion in 2019, securing the third fastest time in history of 48.14 seconds at the Doha World Championships in Qatar. We’ll be cheering on the 25-year-old athlete as she represents the region on the Olympic stage.
Ray Bassil, Lebanon
Lebanese trap shooter Ray Bassil will be competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics by virtue of her result at the 2023 Asian Shooting Championships. This will be Ray’s fourth time representing her country, having previously competed in 2012, 2016, and 2020. She will be taking part in the women’s trap event, and we wish her every success.
Julyana Al-Sadeq, Jordan
A Jordan National Team player, an Asian Games gold medalist, a World Taekwondo Grand Prix gold medalist, and a champion at the Asian Games, Julyana AlSadeq has an illustrious list of achievements already under her belt, but will now be taking on the Olympics. The taekwondo star will be representing her nation in the women’s 67 kg event.
Nahid Kiani, Iran
25-year-old Nahid Kiani will be competing in the women’s 57 kg taekwondo event at the Grand Palais in August. This will be her second time representing the country.
Yomna Ayad, Egypt
A sensational talent on Egypt’s national boxing team, Yomna Ayad secured her spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics in September last year, becoming the first female boxer from the country to ever achieve this feat. Yomna’s qualification came after she came out victorious at the African Olympic Qualification Tournament in Dakar, Senegal. As another female athlete breaking barriers for her country on the Olympic stage, we can’t wait to witness her highly-anticipated performance in the ring.
Khadija El Mardi, Morocco
Moroccan boxer, Khadija El Mardi, will be representing the North African nation at the Olympics for the second time. Having previously competed in the women’s middleweight division at the 2016 Olympics, Khadija will this year be competing in the 75 kg event. She most recently won a gold medal at the 2023 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in India, and was congratulated by King Mohammed IV.
Noor Slaoui, Morocco
Moroccan-born eventing rider Noor Slaoui has secured her spot in the Paris Olympics. Noor embarked on her riding career later in life than most competing athletes, after gaining a degree in International Riding Instructors from the Cadre Noir de Saumur in France. Noor began competing in contests throughout Europe, and will now be participating in the Olympics in June – an incredible achievement in such a short space of time.
Marwa Bouzayani, Tunisia
Tunisian runner Marwa Bouzayani will be returning to the Summer Olympics this year after competing in the 2020 edition, running a personal best of 9:31.25 in the 3000 metre steeplechase. This year, she’ll be participating in the same event, competing against the likes of Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi.
Khouloud Hlimi, Tunisia
Tunisian boxer Khouloud Hlimi secured her spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics after she advanced to the finals of the 2023 African Olympic Qualification Tournament in Dakar, Senegal. She previously represented her country at the 2020 Summer Olympics, and will this year be returning to fight for the title in the women’s featherweight event.
Lead Image Courtesy of @juliana_alsadeq/Instagram.com