After countless hours of training, athletes from the region made their way to Paris with more than just a dream in their hearts. Breaking records and paving the way for the next generation, these athletes carried the hopes of their nations and the prayers of their loved ones along with them. Whether it was Ameena Shah from Kuwait becoming the first Kuwaiti sailor and female from the Gulf to compete or Bahraini swimmer Amani Al-Obaidly setting a national record, history was made for the region at the Olympics. In conversation with six regional athletes, MOJEH offers a glimpse into the world of an Olympian.
Rama Aboalrob
Making it to the quarter finals of the Games in Paris, it is fitting to say that Jordan’s Rama Aboalrob put up quite a fight on the mat. The taekwondo fighter, competing in the Women’s 67kg+ category, was just a few steps away from winning a medal when she had to accept defeat against Turkish opponent Nafia Kuş. Despite it being her first time at the Olympics, her performance was nothing short of brilliant, finding the perfect balance between tactic and strength. “Losing in the quarter finals against the world champion was tough, it was so close but it just wasn’t meant to be. I’m heartbroken, however, this will only make me more determined to reach my goals," Aboalrob tells MOJEH.
Having qualified for the Olympics through the Asian qualifiers that took place in March 2024, Rama had been training diligently ever since. “When I first joined the national team in 2015 I fell more in love with the sport and enjoyed being competitive. My first big achievement was the Asian Championships in 2017 where I won bronze and in 2018, I secured the silver medal at the World Championships which helped me qualify for the youth Olympic games in Argentina,” explains the 23-year-old athlete. Rama is a decorated athlete with numerous medals to her name and she continues to push her limits in pursuit of even greater accomplishments, which led her to the Olympic stage.
The first-time Olympian shared the honour of carrying the Jordanian flag during the opening ceremony alongside fellow taekwondo athlete Saleh Al-Sharabaty. Sailing the Seine, clad in red, black and white, Aboalrob was part of the electric atmosphere created by the world’s most talented athletes.
While the thrill of the Games has slowly begun to fade, the athlete plans ahead for the upcoming Olympics in Los Angeles. “There will be a break from training now but once we’re back I will focus on fixing things in my training and setting new goals which includes qualifying for the LA28 Olympic games,” confirms Aboalrob to MOJEH. We eagerly anticipate her return at the next Games.
Ameena Shah
Under the weight of expectations and with the excitement of a dream come true, Ameena Shah headed to Paris as not only the first Kuwaiti sailor to compete at the Olympics but also the first female from the Gulf to do so. The 23 year old, now back from the adrenaline and anticipation of the games, recalls the many moments from her journey that have been monumental. “In the sailing world, the Olympic village in Marseille was like the Hollywood of sailing,” Shah tells MOJEH. “Being surrounded by the world’s best athletes was incredibly motivating. There was a strong sense of camaraderie and inspiration everywhere you looked. It helped me stay focused and reminded me that I was part of something much bigger than myself.”
Training rigorously ahead of the competition, the athlete knew that stakes were high when it came to the Olympics.“ I had to push myself harder than ever before, both physically and mentally,” she explains. Shah competed against sailors who had sailed in the class longer than she had been alive, giving her quite the challenge to tackle. However, Shah completed all 9 races held at Marseille, finishing in the top 30 for the final one.
The young athlete's journey has seen a steady climb since she first showed interest in the sport in 2012 as an 11 year old, and she continues to work her way up while inspiring a younger generation. “Representing Kuwait on this global stage is a dream come true, and I’m proud to have made history for my country. For the past 11 years, I have always aimed to represent Kuwait at the highest level in sailing,” she tells MOJEH. The athlete is now looking forward to the LA28 Olympics with plans of beating her recent results and also mentoring young sailors in the region.
Mariam Alhodaby
The Egyptian table tennis player and first-time Olympian, Mariam Alhodaby, had several sessions of training before she landed in Paris. The two-time National Champion was however not new to the rigorous regimen the Olympics entailed. “The team and I have had to attend a lot of tournaments and training camps, like the last one in Saarbrücken in Germany, which allowed for the necessary exposure with top players and the opportunity to increase our skills,” Alhodaby tells MOJEH. The 24-year-old athlete competed in the Women’s Team Table Tennis competitions alongside teammate Hana Goda making it to the Round of 16, accepting defeat against Team China after giving a great performance.
For Alhodaby, being part of the Olympian community was both incredible and humbling. The player explains how the cardboard beds and the infamous food did not take away from the experience as the opportunity “to play amongst the world’s best teams and players was the greatest honour and motivation.” She ventured into the sport with the support from her mother. “My mother is the sports proponent in our house, as has been tradition in her family, and she highly motivated us and supported us to play from a young age,” explains Alhodaby. The athlete's twin sister, Marwa, is also a professional table tennis player.
With four years left to prepare for the next Games, Mariam wishes to get better at the sport and play along with her sister. “With the right support, I look forward to competing again in L.A. and hopefully then with my twin sister.”
Amani Al-Obaidly
With the crowd roaring and an electric energy surging through her body, the backstroker made a clean start for what would be a record-breaking finish for the Kingdom of Bahrain. Bahraini swimmer, Amani Al-Obaidly, clocked a time of 1:04.27 to achieve her personal best and a new national record while coming in 6th in the Women’s 100m Backstroke Heats at the Paris Olympics. “Diving into the pool everything fell silent, and it was just me and the clock. When my hand touched the wall, and I looked up to see my time, I was filled with so many emotions as I clocked a new Bahraini Record,” Al-Obaidly tells MOJEH. The athlete had fallen sick four days before the race, adding to the stress and anxiety of the competitions. Despite the setback, Amani explains how competing in Paris was like waking up on her birthday with a childlike joy, as it was the one day she had been training so hard for.
“I nearly quit swimming when I was 14 after getting disqualified in a relay for moving on the blocks,” she reflects. The incident - which cost her team a bronze medal at the Australian Swimming Championships - was a moment of reevaluation which allowed her to take a few months off and decide how to move forward. With encouragement from her parents, Al-Obaidly returned to the pool, this time with her current coach David Lush who would eventually mentor her to her first Olympics.
While the dreams of a medal continue to live inside the swimmer, she also hopes to get her nursing degree in 2025. “Next year, I will be starting my nursing and midwifery degree at university, therefore combining my education with competition and training is the goal,” she says. Striking a balance between grace and speed as she makes her way through the water, we look forward to seeing the young swimmer at the next Olympics for another season of record-breaking.
Nesrine Medjahed
For Algerian swimmer Nesrine Medjahed, the qualifications didn’t come through until a month before the Games, leaving the athlete with less time than she would have liked to prepare for the competition. “I thought I wasn't going to Paris. I finished my season as usual only to learn that I had one month to train for the Olympics,” Medjahed explains. This might have been an unfavourable situation for any athlete, but for Medjahed it was an opportunity she could not let slide. “I did my best with my coach and thankfully, I was really happy with my swim and my time,” says the 24-year-old. She competed in the Women's 100m Freestyle, coming in 8th in the second heat of the competition.
There are many aspects to consider when getting ready for a life-altering competition like the Olympics. The swimmer - who was under the impression she wouldn’t make it for the 2024 games - was pleasantly surprised when her participation was confirmed. According to Medjahed, mental strength is a huge part of being an athlete. “I can say that the mental aspect is everything in sport, and in such a big competition it’s not easy to stay calm and throw away the stress. I owe it to my family, my coaches, my roommates and to the Algerian delegation for always being there and for helping me so much especially on a psychological level,” she expresses.
Inspired by French swimmer Laure Manaudou, Nesrine began swimming at a very young age. With many aspiring swimmers now looking up to her, she encourages them to believe in themselves and trust the process. “Everything is possible in this life. You just have to work harder and harder everyday. It will take a long time but believe that hard work always pays off.” Hoping to make it to the podium at Los Angeles, the athlete continues to work towards her goal of winning a medal.
Juliana Alsadeq
Being the first Jordanian and Arab woman to achieve the Number one ranking in World Taekwondo, Juliana’s journey has seen commendable personal growth. “Since achieving the number one ranking, my journey has been one of continuous learning. It has opened many doors for me, and I've had the opportunity to inspire and mentor others, which has been incredibly rewarding.” Alsadeq tells MOJEH. One such athlete is fellow Olympian Rama Aboalrob, who cites Alsadeq as an “everlasting inspiration and role model”.
Juliana successfully made it to the quarterfinals of the Women’s under-64kg Taekwondo competition, but had to accept defeat against Chinese opponent Song Jie after a tough match. While it was an occasion of sadness, she took to Instagram to reflect on the journey so far. “I realise that it’s not just about winning or losing, it’s about the countless lessons learned, the resilience built and the passion that drove me to reach these heights”. The athlete had first ventured into the sport as a young girl, and it quickly became a passion. “The discipline, focus and physicality of the sport drew me in, and I knew early on that it was something I wanted to pursue seriously,” Alsadeq explains.
She has been vocal about the mental stress associated with the Olympics and the level of preparation it requires. “Training for the Olympics is on a different level entirely. The intensity, the focus, and the level of detail that goes into every aspect of preparation are significantly heightened. There's a greater emphasis on mental toughness and the ability to perform under immense pressure,” she reveals. With the Paris Olympics done and dusted, the 29-year-old athlete is now working towards new goals and aiming to accomplish challenges that will make room for improvement in her sport.
