Hafez, 26, reached the final 16 in the women’s saber individual competition and shared this incredible achievement alongside her pregnancy announcement. She married Ibrahim Ihab in March 2023 and is expecting their first child.
“7 MONTHS PREGNANT OLYMPIAN!,” she wrote on Instagram, accompanied by photos of her emotional final appearance, where she broke down in tears and waved to the crowd. She added, “What appears to you as two players on the podium, they were actually three! It was me, my competitor, & my yet-to-come to our world, little baby!”
Hafez described the physical and emotional challenges she faced during the competition but expressed immense pride in her accomplishment. “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,” she said. “I’m writing this post to say that pride fills my being for securing my place in the round of 16!”
She credited her husband Ibrahim and her family for their support, which helped her achieve this milestone. Hafez also noted the special significance of this Olympics for her, sharing it with her “little Olympian.”
“This specific Olympics was different; Three times Olympian but this time carrying a little Olympian one! ❤️,” she concluded.
Hafez advanced to the top 16 after defeating USA’s Elizabeth Tartakovsky but was ultimately defeated by South Korea’s Jeon Hayoung on July 29. This was her most successful Olympic performance, having previously placed 36th in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and 29th in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Additionally, the Paris Olympic Games featured a nursery in the Olympic Village, a first for the Games, which was a fortunate addition for Hafez.
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