All hail the queen of the uneven bars! Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour just took home Africa’s (and the Arab world’s) first-ever Olympic medal in gymnastics— and its gold!
The 17-year-old gymnast clinched her first medal in the uneven bars apparatus, receiving a whopping 15.700 to win gold. She beat out China’s Qiu Qiyuan and America’s Sunisa Lee, who came in second and third respectively. The medal marks Algeria’s first Olympic gold in 36-years.
“I’m so shocked, it’s the dream of all my life. I can’t believe it has happened, I’m speechless,” said Nemour.
When it comes to the uneven bars, no one quite does it like Nemour, who has nine of the top 10 world scores in this apparatus over the past year. She even has an uneven bars release named after her in the Code of Points, commonly called the “inbar Nabieva,” which she first performed at the 2023 African Championships, where she became the first African gymnast to win a medal, taking home silver on the uneven bars.
Born in Saint-Benoît-la-Forêt, France, to a French mother and an Algerian father, Nemour began gymnastics when she was four-years-old. Originally slated to represent France’s national team, the young athlete switched her nationality to represent Algeria following an intense dispute between her coach and The French Gymnastics Federation. Despite attempts from the Federation to block Nemour’s request for nationality change, the athlete eventually managed to go on to make her debut for her father’s native country at the Arab Championships. While there, she helped Algeria win gold in the team competition.
Nemour taking home gold today in her home country of France after everything that happened feels like a very poetic end to the tumultuous saga. “It’s crazy. I’m honored to have this medal after all that has happened,” said Nemour after today’s victory. “It’s a relief.”
