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The 2024 Summer Olympics are less than a month away and superstar athletes are gearing up to represent their nations in various sports. This year, a number of female sporting figures from the region will proudly be waving their country’s flags in the arenas.
From the UAE’s Safiya Al-Sayegh on the cycling track to Jordan’s Julyana Al-Sadeq in taekwondo, here are five female athletes from the MENA region GRAZIA will definitely be rooting for.
Marwa Bouzayani, Tunisia
Tunisian runner Marwa Bouzayani will be competing in the 3000 metre steeplechase at the 2024 Summer Olympics. She previously competed in the same event in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, running a personal best of 9:31.25.
Noor Slaoui, Morocco
Hailing from Morocco, 30-year-old Noor Slaoui, will be competing in the Paris Olympics this month. After obtaining a degree in International Riding Instructors from the Cadre Noir de Saumur in France, Noor began riding competitively throughout Europe, and will now be making her debut on the world stage.
Julyana Al-Sadeq, Jordan
As the first Jordanian and Arab woman to be ranked number one in the world for taekwondo, Julyana Al-Sadeq has enjoyed significant success throughout her career. She was previously a champion at the World Taekwondo Grand Prix and won a gold medal in the women’s 67 kg weight category at the Asian Games in 2018.
Safiya Al-Sayegh, UAE
Last year, 22-year-old Safiya Al-Sayegh made history by becoming the first female cyclist from the UAE, and just the second rider from the country, to qualify for the Olympics. Currently a national champion, she will be racing to the finish line while fiercely representing the UAE.
Winfred Yavi, Bahrain
A renowned athlete in the 3000 metre steeple chase, Kenyan-born Winfred Yavi relocated to Bahrain at the age of 15 and became eligible to represent her nation the following year. Winfred will this year be competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics, seeking to showcase her sporting prowess in the challenging title race.
