There is much 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 in Tokyo 2020 and there is potential for more this time around.
Here are five Arab men to watch out for in Paris 2024.
Djamel Sedjati (Algeria) – Athletics
Algeria's Djamel Sedjati heads to Paris in red-hot form, not only chasing gold but hell-bent on breaking David Rudisha's 12-year-old world record in the 800m.
In the last three weeks, the 25-year-old Sedjati ran the third- and fourth-fastest 800 meters of all time, going 1 minute, 41.56 seconds in the Diamond League stop in Paris, then lowering his personal best to 1:41.46 five days later in Monaco.
Rudisha set the world record of 1:40.91 in London 2012 and Sedjati has every intention of emulating the Kenyan at this Olympics.
“I would like to thank everyone, especially my family and my coach. It's my fourth time leading the world and the second time an Algerian record. I've worked really hard for it,” Sedjati said in Monaco recently.
“Now I think about the world record, I hope to run it at the Olympic Games. I have two weeks to prepare it. I will focus on it and put in the necessary work so that I can reach my goal.
“I will keep the preparation the same. My mindset is that the hard work I have put in will pay off.”
Sedjati's performance in Monaco saw him set a new national record, world lead, Diamond League record, meeting record and personal best.
Will he do even better in Paris?
The men's 800m heats begin on 7 August, with semi-finals and finals on 9 and 10 August.
Ahmad Abu Al-Soud (Jordan) – Gymnastics
At Liverpool 2022, Jordan's Ahmad Abu Al-Soud took the silver medal on horseback to become the first Arab to reach the podium at a world championship.
Despite a lower back injury that slowed him down, he took another World Cup medal the following year, this time bronze.
He then went on to dominate the 2024 World Cup series (winning gold in three of the four) to punch his ticket to Paris and become the first Jordanian gymnast to qualify for the Olympics.
The 29-year-old Abu Al-Soud, who has a skill named after him in the FIG Code of Points, heads to Paris ranked No. 1 in the world on horseback and is a favorite for gold at the Olympics.
The men's artistic gymnastics qualification begins on July 27 at the Bercy Arena, with the equestrian final scheduled for August 3.
Ramzi Boukhiam (Morocco) – Surfing
Ramzi Boukhiam, the first Moroccan or Arab surfer to qualify for the World Surf League's Championship Tour, is heading to his second Olympics, having competed in Tokyo 2020, when surfing made its debut.
The surfing competition at the 2024 Olympics will be staged in Tahiti, where 24 men and 24 women will tackle the majestic and equally terrifying Teahupo'o wave.
Taghzout stand up!
Ramzi Boukhiam keeps the Moroccans on their toes, staying on their feet over a technical Teahupo'o foam ball to claim victory over Kelly Slater and a semi-final spot!@SHISEIDO_USA #TahitiPro @outerknown_live pic.twitter.com/aEOlRy8SEx
— World Surf League (@wsl) May 30, 2024
Boukhiam placed ninth on his Olympic debut in Tokyo but Teahupo'o is much better suited to his surfing style. And the 30-year-old can take confidence from the fact he placed third at the same venue, on the Championship Tour at the Tahiti Pro just two months ago.
“I have my second chance now, to go to Tahiti, on a wave like Teahupo'o, it's the most dangerous but the most perfect wave on the planet,” Boukhiam, who was Morocco's flag bearer at Tokyo 2020, said recently on the Abtal podcast.
“As a surfer, it doesn't get much better than that. You're scared but super excited at the same time and I feel like if we could get good waves it could actually be a great, great event.”
Boukhiam secured her spot in the 2024 Olympics by winning the silver medal at the ISA World Surfing Games in Puerto Rico in March.
Olympic surfing competition kicks off in Tahiti on July 27th with action continuing through July 31st.
Mutaz Barshim (Qatar) – Athletics
Qatar's Mutaz Barshim won bronze in London (which was upgraded to silver nine years later), silver in Rio and gold in Tokyo.
Barshim has raised the bar higher and higher with each Olympics and the star high jumper is now ready to take the leap one last time.
“I feel like I've been here quite a while, I've done it all, seen it all and I feel like at this point it would be selfish for me to take more time away from my family and loved ones,” the 33-year-old Barshim told FloTrack this week after announcing that Paris would be his final Games.
“I also want to be there for my family. Everyone has been there for me my whole career. I've been jumping professionally since 2011 so it's been a long time and I'm really happy and excited about everything we've accomplished together but I feel that it's time to give back now. It's time to give myself back to my family.”
Barshim had one of the most iconic moments of the Tokyo Olympics when he and his Italian rival and friend Gianmarco Tamberi decided to share the gold medal rather than go through a jump-off to break the tie.
They had both overcome career-threatening injuries in the lead-up to Tokyo and felt they both deserved to top the podium.
Mutaz Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi 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 another trip #Paris2024. Territorial restrictions on voting may apply. https://t.co/aGWb0MJuy2#Coca Cola pic.twitter.com/fJIlpODmkq
— The Olympic Games (@OS) July 2, 2024
Barshim and Tamberi have said there would be no split if they find themselves in the same situation in Paris.
The men's high jump qualification at the Paris Olympics will take place on August 7 at the Stade de France, with the final scheduled for August 10.
Yahia Omar (Egypt) – Handball
He will be a Parisian for the next three years, but before making his debut for new club Paris Saint-Germain, Yahia Omar will try to help Egypt secure its first handball medal at the Olympics.
The Egyptians came agonizingly close to making the podium at Tokyo 2020, finishing fourth after losing to Spain in the bronze medal match. It was the first time an African team made it this far in handball at the Olympics.
The 26-year-old right-back was a key part of that Olympic squad, earning him honors in the Tokyo 2020 All-star team – the first non-European since 1992 to achieve that feat.
Egypt have a daunting road ahead of them in Paris as they were drawn in the same group alongside hosts and defending champions France, reigning world champions Denmark, Norway, Hungary and Argentina.
“It's the Olympics. There's nothing easy. I think we have the harder group, but I think it gives us a better opportunity to be in the semi-finals,” Omar said when the draw was revealed.
The Pharaohs begin their campaign against Hungary on July 27.
