There is a lot to look forward to when it comes to Arab athletes at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
A total of 14 medals were won by Arab men at Tokyo 2020, and there is potential for more this time around.
Here are five Arab men in Paris 2024.
Jamel Sejati (Algeria) – Athletics
Algeria's Jamel Sejati heads to Paris in hot form, not only chasing gold, but also determined to break David Rudisha's 12-year-old world record in the 800m.
In the past three weeks, the 25-year-old Sejati ran the third- and fourth-fastest 800 meters of all time, clocking 1:41.56 at the Paris Diamond League, before lowering his personal best to 1:41.46 five days later in Monaco.
Rudisha set a world record time of 1:40.91 at London 2012 and Sadjati is aiming to emulate the Kenyan at the Olympics.
I would like to thank everyone, especially my family and coach. This is the fourth time that I have achieved a world record and the second time that I have achieved the Algerian record. I have worked really hard for it.
Now I'm thinking about the world record, I hope I can run it in the Olympics. I have two weeks to prepare it. I will focus on it and do what is necessary to achieve my goal.
I keep the preparation the same. “My mindset is that the hard work I've put in will pay off.”
Sejati's performance in Monaco saw him set a new national record, world championship, Diamond League record, match record and personal best.
Will he do even better in Paris?
The men's 800m race will begin on August 7, with the semifinals and finals on August 9 and 10.
Ahmed Abolaoud (Jordan) – Gymnastics
At Liverpool 2022, Jordan's Ahmed Abolaoud won silver in the pommel horse to become the first Arab to reach the podium at the World Championships.
Despite a back injury that slowed him down, he won another world championship medal the following year, this time bronze.
She then dominated the 2024 World Cup events (winning gold in three out of four events) to punch her ticket to Paris and become the first Jordanian gymnast to qualify for the Olympics.
The 29-year-old Abolsoud, who has a skill to his name in the Fieg scoring code, heads to Paris ranked No. 1 in the world for pommel horse and one of the favorites for Olympic gold.
The men's artistic gymnastics qualification begins July 27 at Bercy Arena, with the pommel horse final scheduled for August 3.
Ramzi Bokhiam (Morocco) – surfing
Ramzi Bokhiam, the first Moroccan or Arab surfer to qualify for the World Surfing League Championship Tour, is going to his second Olympics by competing in Tokyo 2020, when surfing was first.
The 2024 Olympic Surfing Championships will be held in Tahiti, where 24 men and 24 women will compete on the magnificent and equally terrifying Teahupo'o wave.
Get up!
Ramsey Bouchyam keeps the Moroccans on their toes and stays on a Teahupo'o technical to beat Kelly Slater and reach the semi-finals!@SHISEIDO_USA #TahitiPro @outerknown_live pic.twitter.com/aEOlRy8SEx
– World Surfing League (@wsl) May 30, 2024
Bokhiam finished ninth in his Olympic debut in Tokyo, but Tihopuo is far more suited to his surfing style. And the 30-year-old can take confidence from the fact that he finished third in the same venue at the Tour Championship in Tahiti Peru just two months ago.
“I now have my second chance, to go to Tahiti, on a wave like Teahupo'o, the most dangerous but perfect wave on the planet,” Bokhiam, who was Morocco's flag bearer at Tokyo 2020, said recently on Abtal's podcast. .
As a surfer, it doesn't get much better than this. “You're scared but you're super excited at the same time, and I feel like if we can get some good waves, it could actually be an amazing, amazing event.”
By winning the silver medal at the ISA World Surfing Championships in Puerto Rico in March, Buchiam secured his spot at the 2024 Olympics.
The surfing competition at the Olympics in Tahiti starts on July 27th and continues until July 31st.
Mo'taz Barshim (Qatar) – Athletics
Mo'taz Barshim Qatari won bronze in London (which was upgraded to silver nine years later), silver in Rio and gold in Tokyo.
Barsheim has been raising the bar higher and higher with each Olympic Games, and the high jump star is now ready to take the leap one last time.
The 33-year-old: “I feel like I've been here a long time, I've done it all, I've seen it all, and I feel like it's selfish of me at this point to spend more time away from my family and loved ones.” Barsheim-Sale told FloTrack this week after announcing that Paris would be his last game.
I also want to be with my family. Everyone has been there for me throughout my career. I've been jumping professionally since 2011, so it's been a long time and I'm really happy and proud of everything we've accomplished together, but I feel like it's time to pay it forward. It's time to return myself to my family.”
Breshim produced one of the most iconic moments of the Tokyo Olympics when he and his Italian rival and friend Gianmarco Tambri decided to split the gold medal instead of jumping to break a tie.
Both had overcome serious injuries against Tokyo and felt they both deserved to be on the podium.
Mutaz Barshim and Gianmarco Tambri shared the top step of the podium in the men's high jump at Tokyo 2020.
Vote for your favorite Olympic magic moment for a chance to win a trip #Paris2024. Regional voting restrictions may apply. https://t.co/aGWb0MJuy2#Coca Cola pic.twitter.com/fJIlpODmkq
– Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 2, 2024
Bershim and Tambri have said that if they find themselves in a similar situation in Paris, there will be nothing in common.
The men's high jump qualifiers for the Paris Olympics will be held on August 7 at the Stade de France, with the final on August 10.
Yahya Omar (Egypt) – handball
He will be a Parisian for the next three years, but Yahya Omar will be looking to help Egypt win its first handball medal at the Olympics ahead of his debut for new club Paris Saint-Germain.
The Egyptians came very close to the podium at Tokyo 2020, finishing fourth after losing to Spain in the bronze medal match. It was the first time that an African handball team had advanced so far in the Olympics.
The 26-year-old right-back was a key part of the Olympic team that earned him Tokyo 2020 All-Star honors – the first non-European to achieve the feat since 1992.
Egypt have a daunting route in Paris as they have been drawn in a group alongside hosts and defending champions France, Denmark, Norway, Hungary and world champions Argentina.
“This is the Olympics. “Nothing is easy,” Omar said when the draw was announced.
The pharaohs began their campaign against Hungary on July 27.
