Top 7 MENA women athletes to watch at 2024 Paris Olympics
The games begin in 8 days, and these MENA women athletes are gearing up to make history!
Left to right: Ons Jabeur, Noor Slaoui, Doaa El-Ghobashy
Set to take place from July 26 to August 11, the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024 will feature over 10,000 athletes competing in 329 medal events across 32 sports. As the first fully gender-equal Olympics, Paris 2024 is a milestone for women athletes, particularly from the MENA region.
From the Arab world’s first horse eventing qualifier to the first-ever female nationals from the UAE and Saudi Arabia to compete in the Olympics, these are just a few of the many inspiring MENA women to cheer for at the Games!
Dunya Abutaleb
Dunya AbuTaleb, a trailblazer in Saudi sports, made history as the first Saudi woman to qualify for the Olympics on her own merit! Ranked internationally for the Taekwando - 53 kg weight category, she recently clinched a gold medal at the Asian Championship. She has broken barriers and set new standards in the female Saudi sport scene.
Ines Laklalech
Golf makes a comeback at the Olympics, and Ines Laklalech, a 24-year-old golf talent, is ready for it. She made history in 2022 by becoming the first Moroccan, Arab, and North African woman to win the Ladies European Tour title at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France in Deauville. Driven by her Olympic aspirations, Ines marks a milestone in golf and inspires aspiring athletes across the region.
Doaa El-Ghobashy
At just 26 years old, Doaa Elghobashy has already left a permanent mark in sports history, both on and off the court. Alongside her teammate, Nada Meawad, they made history as the first Egyptian duo to compete in beach volleyball at the Olympics. It also symbolized her groundbreaking role as the first hijabi player in beach volleyball! Her journey to Rio was full of challenges, like getting approval to wear a hijab, but she showed incredible resilience and determination. Her story is a powerful inspiration, proving that breaking barriers and chasing dreams are always worth it.
Ons Jabeur
Ons Jabeur, a tennis icon from Tunisia, has made history as the highest-ranked African and Arab player in tennis. Jabeur became the first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam final, achieving a career-high ranking of world No. 2. With ambitions set on winning prestigious titles like Wimbledon, Jabeur's impressive track record includes five WTA singles titles and numerous victories on the ITF Circuit. She's certainly a top contender for a gold medal this year!
Safiya Al Sayegh
Safiya Al Sayegh, a 22-year-old cyclist, made history as the first Emirati woman to qualify for the Olympics! Her achievement is a game-changer for UAE sports, showcasing her talent and dedication in cycling. As she gears up for the global stage, she's also about to inspire a whole new generation of athletes in the UAE. Watch out for her at the Olympics, where she'll proudly represent her country and show what Emirati cyclists can achieve on the international level.
Noor Slaoui
Noor Slaoui is about to make history as the first Arab and North African woman to compete in eventing at the Olympic Games in Paris. She's funding her own riding career, and is now set to represent Morocco and the Arab world in this challenging equestrian triathlon. Eventing combines dressage, cross-country, and jumping over three days, with rankings based on total scores across all events. It's a big moment for her and for Arab women in sports!
Valerie Tarazi
Valerie Tarazi is a talented Palestinian-American swimmer headed to Paris 2024. She won gold in the 100m backstroke and 50m breaststroke at the Sport Games Algeria 2023. “I’m forever grateful for this opportunity to go back to my roots and represent Palestine in Paris,” she shared on Instagram. Valarie is not just about winning medals; she proudly showcases her Palestinian heritage, whether by wearing the Palestinian flag or keffiyeh at swim meets or painting her nails in the flag's colors. She’s definitely one of the top MENA athletes to watch!
While we can't cover every incredible MENA athlete, we're thrilled to cheer on this amazing lineup and see them make history at the Olympics!
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