In what is shaping up to be their eighth participation in the Olympic Games, Palestinian athletes are now, as we speak, either en route to or already in the City of Lights, putting the final touches on their preparations with only a few crucial hours left before they fly their flag high in Paris.
Despite living under occupation and systemic oppression, the Holy Land’s Olympic team has still managed to qualify for every edition of the quadrennial tournament since their debut in 1996 — a tremendous achievement given the harsh conditions they compete in. Despite this milestone, no Palestinian athlete has ever managed to win an Olympic medal. This year, eight athletes hope to change that by bringing a piece of silverware back home.
Ahead of the highly-anticipated event’s opening ceremony, which will take place on July 26, below, meet the eight athletes representing Palestine at the forthcoming edition of the Olympic Games.
Mohammed Dwedar, Track
Born in 2001, at 23-years-old, Mohammed Dwedar will be competing at the Men’s 800m track-run. Some of his previous honors include winning first place in his native Palestine’s championship and having reached fourth place at the CAS Meeting International in Luxembourg.
Layla Al-Masri, Track
Running in the women’s 800m track run, Layla Al-Masri is a regular sight on podiums as she has notably featured twice in the Asian championships top eight as well as snatching the top spot at the Bryan Clay Invitational in 2022 and 2024. At 25, she might be her homeland’s best shot at bringing a medal back home.
Wasim Abusal, Boxing
Competing in the men’s featherweight division, Wasim Abusal will be the first ever Palestinian to box at the Olympic Games. The 20-year-old from Ramallah recently revealed not having been able to train properly since the outbreak of the tragic events of Oct. 7. Despite this, his motivation to bring a piece of silverware back home remains intact, emphasizing on how he wants to compete and “not just participate.”
Fares Badawi, Judo
Judoka Fares Badawi will be representing Palestine in the U81KG category. Some of his previous achievements include a silver medal at the 2017 Bremen Open International tournament as well as a participation at the 2019 World Championships in Tokyo.
Jorge Antonio Salhe, Shooting
At 49, Salhe will be the oldest Palestinian representative at the Olympics in the skeet shooting category. His best ever ranking in world championships was in 2022, coming tenth in Lima, Peru.
Yazan Al-Bawwab, Swimming
Born in Saudi Arabia, the Italian-Palestinian swimmer will make his second Olympics appearance in Paris, following his first participation in Tokyo 2020. After winning gold in the 50m and 100m backstroke events at the most recent Arab Games, this summer, he is looking to repeat his feat in the 100m backstroke race.
Valerie Tarazi, Swimming
A serial record breaker, Valerie Tarazi holds the best time in several swimming disciplines in Palestine, including the 50m and 100m backstroke, 50m, 100m, and 200m breaststroke, and the 50m butterfly. But that’s not it — in Algeria for the 2023 Arab Games, she earned herself two gold, three silver, and one bronze medal which made her then the athlete with the highest number of decorations. At Paris 2024, the 24-year-old will compete in the Women’s 200m medley race.
Omar Yaser Ismail, Taekwondo
For the first time ever, Palestine managed to qualify a Taekwondo athlete for the Olympics. Having earned his ticket to Paris at the most recent Asian Qualification Tournament in China, Omar Yaser Ismail is expected to compete in the U58KG category and hopefully mark his debut by clinching victory.
