Nayel Nassar, husband of Bill Gates’ eldest daughter Jennifer, will represent Egypt in the equestrian event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Nassar, who is Egyptian-American, also competed in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and ranked 16th and 24th in team and individual events.
Nassar’s equestrian career
Nassar started his equestrian career as a teenager. His inclusion in the Egyptian Olympic team highlights the growing influence of equestrian sports in Egypt.
Melinda Gates, the mother of Nassar’s wife, expressed her support for him in a social media post by stating: “So excited to watch you compete at the Olympics, @nayelnassar! I’m rooting for you 🥰”
Nassar’s participation in the Olympics has been fraught with controversy. His large support team — his ten-person delegation to Paris — has captured public attention, raising questions about whether such arrangements are necessary.
The Egyptian Equestrian Federation has denied financial support for the athlete’s team. Despite the drama, Nassar is focused on his goal– the equestrian competition. He aims to achieve his first Olympic medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Australia’s Jessica Fox is widely seen as the greatest individual slalom canoe paddler of all time. The 30-year-old eight-time world champion has four Olympic medals under her belt.
The Paris Olympics mark a return to roots for her.
She was born in Marseille, France, but moved to Australia with her family at the age of four.
Selected to be the Australian flag-bearer at the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony, she said it was “probably the greatest moment of my career” . She shared the honour with the Australian field hockey player and five-time Olympian Eddie Ockenden.
Fox, whose mother is French, said, “Obviously that French connection is very strong and it’s such a wonderful, special, unique moment to be able to bring my two cultures together: the French, the Australian,” according to Australia’s ABC News.
She comes from a family of Olympian paddlers.
Her younger sister, Noemi Fox, 27, is making her Olympic debut in Paris, competing in the women’s kayak cross event.
Their mother, Myriam Jerusalmi, won bronze for France at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games and coaches Jessica. Their father, Richard, paddled for Britain at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
The Paris Olympics will be Jessica Fox’s fourth Summer Games.
She made her debut at the 2012 London Olympics, where she won a silver in the K1 event. Four years later, she won a bronze in the same event at the Rio de Janeiro Games. She won not only a bronze in K1 at Tokyo but struck gold as well. Fox like several others had been been urging women be allowed to compete in canoe slalom, and when it was introduced in the Tokyo Olympics, she won gold in that C1 event.
Outside the Olympics, Fox has won 22 medals at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships, including 14 golds, five silvers and three bronzes. Her eight gold medals in individual events make her the most successful paddler, male or female, in World Championship history.
Equestrian Anush Agarwalla joyously secures Paris Olympics dream
Anush Agarwalla, an Indian equestrian sensation, has successfully qualified for the Paris Olympics in the dressage division by putting on outstanding performances in the last four FEI competitions held in Europe. With continuous performance spanning from Wroclaw, Poland (73.485%) to Mechelen, Belgium (74.2%), Anush has not only secured this esteemed position but also cemented India’s status in the world of equestrian competitions. His talent and commitment to the sport guarantee an amazing show at the next Olympics in Paris, which will be a historic occasion for Indian equestrianism.
Equestrian Olympic legends such as Jitendrajit Singh Ahluwalia, Hussain Singh, Mohammed Khan, Darya Singh, Indrajit Lamba, Imtiaz Anees, and Fouaad Mirza have left their mark on the rich fabric of Indian history. Anush Agarwalla now gives this legacy a new meaning as he becomes the first Indian to win an Olympic quota in the dressage discipline. His accomplishment is a turning point in the international equestrian career of India.
Agarwalla told “I am very proud and grateful to have been successful for securing a berth for India at the Paris Olympic Games. Competing in the Olympics has always been a childhood dream for me and I’m proud to be part of this historical moment for the nation,” an article from sportskeeda.com mentioned.
Anush Agarwalla won gold in the team dressage category
Anush Agarwalla and colleagues Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh, and Vipul Hriday Chheda created history at the Asian Games 2023 by winning a stunning gold medal in the Team Dressage Event. A few days later, he won an outstanding Bronze in the individual Dressage competition. Agarwalla has left a lasting impression on the sporting world with his incredible accomplishments, which showcase his extraordinary talent and dedication to greatness in equestrian sports.
Anush Agarwalla said “It is the dream of every athlete to see the national flag go up high in the sky, with the national anthem playing in front of thousands of spectators, so this moment was very memorable and emotional,” an article from sportskeeda.com shared.
A professional French diver had a very uncomfortable incident at the opening ceremony for a venue that will accommodate swimming, water polo, and diving at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris when he tripped while attempting a jump.
From the 10-meter board, 33 feet in the air, the mishap forced him to tumble backwards and smash his back on the board before plunging into the water at the new Olympic Aquatic Centre. Unfortunately, French President Emmanuel Macron was in attendance and witnessed the event.
Jandard, who was understandably ashamed and mortified, was able to thank supporters and make jokes about the incident on French television and social media.
Jandard trips
Because of the incident, the 26-year-old diver had lower back bruises and welts from the fall, but he is still training and is not seriously hurt.
He admitted: “I fell in front of the president. I fell in front of the whole of France… I’ve broken boards before, but the board had never broken me before. Now it has.”
Life's ups and downs… Hilarious moment #French diver slips on diving board at #Olympic#POOL inauguration ceremony attended by Emmanuel #Macron. This unlucky athlete won silver in the Team Event alongside Jade Gillet at the #World Aquatics Championships in 2022. pic.twitter.com/hYpiqt4pbI
“I would have preferred this ceremony to have gone well from start to finish… There was that little hitch. If it made people smile a little, so much the better,” Jandard then added.
Jandard competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and earned silver and bronze medals for France at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships. It is anticipated that he will compete for a gold medal in his native nation.
British diver Tom Daley has officially secured his spot on Team GB’s diving team for the upcoming Paris Olympics, marking his fifth Olympic appearance.
After taking a hiatus from the sport following his gold medal win at the previous Olympics, Daley is set to make his comeback alongside teammate Noah Williams in the 10m synchronized platform event. Their partnership resulted in a silver medal at the World Championships following Daley’s return to competition in December last year.
Reflecting on Daley’s remarkable return, Williams acknowledged his unparalleled talent, stating, “No one else in the world would take two years out and be as good as he is.”
Initially presumed to retire during his time off, Daley’s decision to return to diving was influenced by his son Robbie’s desire to witness his father compete in the Olympic Games.
The fifth for Daley
His comeback started at the British National Diving Cup last December. Earlier this year, he and Williams won the world silver, guaranteeing Great Britain’s place in the 10m synchronized event in Paris. The pair also won gold at the World Cup event in Berlin last March.
Later this month, Williams will take the flight to the States, where he will train with Daley for two weeks in order to get the two of them tuned in before the Olympic games.
On the other hand, in the women’s 10m platform synchronized event, Team GB has also confirmed world bronze medallists Lois Toulson and Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, the daughter of TV presenter Fred Sirieix, while Jack Laugher and Anthony Harding will compete in the men’s 3m springboard event, which Laugher won gold in with Chris Mears in Rio in 2016.
In the women’s 3m springboard event, Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew-Jensen, who took home silver and bronze respectively at the 2023 world championships, will compete together.
Moreover, following the Aquatics GB Diving Championships, which are held in Birmingham from May 23–26, the British competitors for the individual events in Paris will soon be announced.
As the 2024 Olympics approaches, get to know these several athletes who have performed and delivered their best in their respective sports last 2023 and now have high hopes for Team USA at this coming summer games in Paris.
Athletes showcase their skills and capabilities, 12 months prior to the Olympic year. Aside from USA’s Simone Biles who is considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, here are five other American athletes who proved that they deserve the spotlight at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Track and Field – Sha’Carri Richardson
Photo: Instagram.com/itsshacarri
Richardson has secured a great performing year by winning sprint races in the Doha Diamond League event, the Miramar Invitational. She had beaten Jamaican athlete Shericka Jackson and double Olympic short sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce at the World’s Championships in Budapest with a record of 10.65 seconds ahead in the 100m division. She also bagged bronze in the 200m division, and her presence helped Team USA to take home gold in the 4x100m event.
Her athletic performance in 2023 indeed showed that she had moved on past the penalty that caused her to not play at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. With her determined attitude to win, Richardson can run for greater achievements in the 2024 Olympics, and hopes to make a memorable Olympic debut.
Swimming – Hunter Armstrong
Photo: Instagram.com/hunterarmstrong_
Well-known as “The Magician”, Armstrong had shown surprising results in the past year. He had won gold in the non-Olympic 50-meter backstroke, and also bagged bronze in the 100-meter backstroke at the World Aquatic Championships. More so, he had competed for the gold-winning 4×100-meter medley relay squad.
Will he be able to do more of his magic tricks on the pool at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics?
3×3 Basketball – Jimmer Fredette
Photo: Instagram.com/jimmerfredette_32
When American fans hear the name Jimmer Fredette, his heroics in the NCAA tournament for Brigham Young University and his legendary time in the NBA will first come to mind. Now, it is the start of her career as a 3×3 basketball star.
Fredette is well-known as a veteran basketball player, but he is new to the 3×3 set-up. However, despite the newness of the game, it did not stop him from leading Team USA to achieve gold at the Pan American games, and qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics. They also won silver in the World Cup.
Unfortunately, the men of Team USA did not qualify for the Tokyo Olympics last 2020. It is Fredette and his teammate’s mission to win the first 3×3 medal and bring it home to their beloved country.
Gymnastics – Shilese Jones
Photo: Instagram.com/shicanfly
After the unfortunate events that had happened in Jones’ life back in 2020–not qualifying for the 2020 Olympics team and the loss of her father due to a kidney disease–she could have easily given up elite gymnastics. However, her commitment had helped her become one of the best gymnasts in the world today.
Jones was part of the U.S. team that competed at the Gymnastics World Championships, and they had won gold. She also won bronze in the all-around and bars.
This Olympics, she is more than determined to continue proving to the world that she is one of the finest gymnasts. With Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, and Gabby Douglas, Jones can be a part of the new American Dream Team.
Wrestling – Zain Retherford
Photo: Instagram.com/zaintrainusa
Retherford had an unpleasant season back in 2022, despite winning silver in the world championships. Last year, he came back stronger and took home gold in 70kg.
Having the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials at his alma mater, Penn State, the wrestler will definitely have a huge crown beaming with pride as he begins his journey to the Olympics.
