From the cool Turkish shooter who became an overnight sensation to the French vaulter who had his Olympic dreams crushed by his own, um, body part, the 2024 Paris Olympics have been very entertaining to say the least. The quadrennial tournament, which got underway in the French capital on July 26, is a goldmine of memorable moments and amazing athletic accomplishments, with the Arab world making significant strides in the Summer Games. Just this weekend, Algerian gymnast Kaylia Nemour made history by winning Africa’s first-ever Olympic medal in gymnastics, and the Arab world’s 34th gold medal. With days left until the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games on Aug. 11, we decided to look back at all the times Arab athletes from the Middle East and North Africa made Olympic history.
Hicham El Guerrouj
The retired Moroccan middle-distance runner is the current world record holder for the 1500 meters and mile events and the former world record holder for the 2000 meters. He is one of the two athletes to ever win a gold medal in both the 1500 and 5000 meters in the same Olympic Games. To this day, he is wildly regarded as the greatest middle-distance runner in history.
Kaylia Nemour
At just 17, Kaylia Nemour has soared into the record books, clinching the first-ever Olympic gold medal in gymnastics for Africa and the Arab world. Her flawless performance on the uneven bars earned her an impressive score of 15.700, besting China’s Qiu Qiyuan and America’s Sunisa Lee. This victory marks Algeria’s first Olympic gold in 36 years, a monumental achievement that reverberates far beyond the gymnasium.
Nawal El Moutawakel
Morocco stands out as the country in the region with the second highest number of gold medals, having won seven in total. The North African nation’s first gold came forty years ago, in Los Angeles in 1984. This historic medal was claimed by 400m hurdler Nawal El Moutawakel, who became the first Arab, African, and Muslim woman to win gold at any Olympics.
Ahmad Abughaush
Jordan’s Ahmad Abughaush delivered his country’s first Olympic medal by securing gold in the men’s 68kg taekwondo category at the 2016 Rio Games, a defining moment for Jordan since its Olympic debut in 1980.
Ruth Jebet
Bahrain celebrated a historic triumph at the Rio Games as well, with Ruth Jebet claiming gold in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, marking the nation’s first-ever Olympic gold. This victory followed Bahrain’s inaugural Olympic medal at the 2012 London Games, establishing the country as a rising force in athletics.
Sara Ahmed
Egypt’s Sara Ahmed broke barriers as the first Arab woman to win an Olympic weightlifting medal. Her remarkable lifts in Rio earned her a bronze, making her Egypt’s first female Olympic medalist and the country’s first weightlifting medalist since 1948.
Doaa Elghobashy
Another trailblazer from Egypt, Doaa Elghobashy garnered global attention by becoming the first volleyball player to compete in a hijab, symbolizing the intersection of cultural identity and competitive spirit.
Ines Boubakri and Marwa Amri
Tunisia witnessed groundbreaking achievements with Ines Boubakri and Marwa Amri, who became the first African women to win Olympic medals in fencing and wrestling, respectively. Their victories exemplify the expanding scope of Arab excellence in the Olympics.
Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin
Iran also celebrated a historic milestone when 18-year-old Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin secured a bronze medal in taekwondo, becoming the first Iranian woman to earn an Olympic medal.
Kariman Abuljadayel
Saudi Arabia’s Olympic journey saw significant breakthroughs with Kariman Abuljadayel making history as the first Saudi woman to compete in the 100m sprint, and Sarah Attar, who in 2012 became the first Saudi woman to participate in the Olympics, returning to compete in the marathon.
