Nada Hafez: The Egyptian fencer’s Olympic pregnancy which stunned the world

Cairo-based Hafez, who pursued her passion for fencing while studying for her medical degree, became an Egyptian sabre champion and went to both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games.

So, having qualified for Paris 2024, did she consider pulling out when she discovered she was pregnant?

“Yes, of course. I knew I was pregnant a week before a World Cup [event], and I said, ‘Okay, I won’t chance it because it’s my first pregnancy’,” she explained.

“I didn’t know how I would feel.

“I was waiting for my husband [a cardiothoracic surgeon] to tell me to stop and take rest. But he told me: ‘We’ll go to the doctor. Whatever he says, we’ll do.’

“And the doctor said: ‘You don’t have a disease. You’re just pregnant. If you’re okay and everything is normal, you can do whatever you want.'”

With that reassurance, Hafez felt ready to resume training.

Mindful of the spotlight falling on her nation if the news came out, she kept it as quiet as she could.

“I didn’t have to tell anyone, because it’s not against Olympic regulations,” she said.

“I just told the people who needed to know. The most important thing was not to go against any laws or health conditions.”

“I didn’t know if I would make it so I took it step by step until I reached the Olympics.”

Egypt’s National Olympic Committee told BBC Sport Africa it has no rules barring pregnant women from training or competing.

“But it has to be a safe environment and we have to make sure there is no risk involved,” an official said.