Olympic mothers: Egyptian fencer competes whilst pregnant and US runner opens up about motherhood

Image Credit: Instagram @nada_hafez / Instagram @athletics.weekly

An Egyptian fencer has revealed that she was seven months pregnant whilst competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics this month, after a US runner also opened up about being a runner and mother.

Competing for Egypt, 26-year-old fencer, Nada Hafez took part in her third Olympics in Paris this year where she won the first women’s individual sabres competition 15-13 against USA’s Elizabeth Tartakovsky. However, she was subsequently beaten by South Koreas Jeon Hayoung 15-7 in the last 16. 

Taking to Instagram following her defeat, Hafez revealed that she was 7 months pregnant during the tournament.

“What appears to you as two players on the podium, they were actually three! It was me, my competitor, and my yet-to-come to our world little baby!” she said.

“My baby and I had our fair share of challenges, be it both physical and emotional,” she continued. “The rollercoaster of pregnancy is tough on its own, but having to fight to keep the balance of life and sports was nothing short of strenuous, however worth it. I’m lucky to have shared the trust of my husband [Ibrahim Ihab] and that of my family to be able to come this far. This specific Olympics was different; three times Olympian but this time carrying a little Olympian one!”

This comes after another Olympic competitor has opened up about being a runner and a mother. USA’s Elle Purrier St. Pierre is currently competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 1500m run.

Purrier St Pierre qualified for the Olympics after running the fastest women’s 5K in the USA, just 17 months after her son, Ivan, was born. “It’s hard. There are so many things women have to balance that men don’t,” she said after the qualifiers. “Women are awesome.”

Originally from Vermont, where she is also a dairy farmer, she stated that she is happy with her life as a mother and runner, saying that her son is her motivator.

 “I feel like everything I do in my life right now is something that I really enjoy,” she explained. “I love being a mom, I love being a runner, and I love being a farmer.”

“But also now that I’m a mom, I run a lot for Ivan and I can’t wait to someday be able to show him pictures of when he was traveling with me in my belly. My little racer,” she added.

Purrier St Pierre has said that she takes inspiration from other female athletes who are also mothers.

“I think we all kind of build off each other. There’s a big mom community, and everyone is rooting for each other,” she said. “I think seeing other moms accomplish big things inspires me, motivates me and gives me confidence that I can accomplish big things. It’s pretty awesome to have other people cheering for you. I see so many other moms, and it’s so special.”

Purrier St Pierre also won the World Athletics Indoor Championships and, in the process, broke the America and championship record for a 3,000m run, just 2 days after her son turned one. Holding her trophy she said “This one’s for the moms!”

According to the Irish Times, more mothers have taken part in this year’s Olympics than ever before, and a nursery has also been introduced in the Olympic village for the first time.