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The Olympics 2024 showcased some incredible athletic achievements — with some sterling performances from Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles to name but a few. However, they also provided some human-interest stories that show not only sporting prowess, but the sheer might and determination of athletes to perform for their countries under the most difficult, or unusual, of circumstances.
Here are just a few stories that have made us marvel at the will-power and determination of these remarkable athletes:
1
Pregnant and outperforming
Yaylagul Ramazanov
It’s very rare to see top athletes performing with a baby bump. Yet, Yaylagul Ramazanov, an Azerbaijan archer, shared how her unborn child gave her a boost, stating, “I felt my baby kick me before I shot this last arrow, and then I shot a 10.”
Nada Hafez
However, Ramazanova was not the only expectant mom at the Games. Fencer Nada Hafez from Egypt represented her country sporting an impressive baby belly. At seven months pregnant she made it to the 16th round of her event, stating: “What appears to you as two players on the podium, they were actually three! It was me, my competitor, & my yet-to-come to our world, little baby!”
2
Participating despite war and displacement
Taisiia Onofriichuk
Ukraine’s rhythmic gymnast Taisiia Onofriichuk came to Paris, despite having recently witnessed some of the most lethal airstrikes from Russian forces. Her trainer Iryna Blokhina shared with Reuters: “We didn’t know if we would even get here, because during the last attack before we left, we thought we wouldn’t survive.”
She went on to explain that training for the event had also proved incredibly difficult, with the noise of the airstrikes leaving gymnasts unable to hear the music that was going to be accompanying them during their routines. They eventually had to find a location where fewer attacks were taking place.
However, this did not stop Onofriichuk from getting to the finals in the Women’s Rhythmic Individual All-Around, and placing an impressive ninth!
Cindy Ngamba
This leads us to the story of the Refugee Olympic Team that won its first ever Olympic medal thanks to the talent of boxer Cindy Ngamba. As one of the team’s flagbearers, the 25-year-old was one of just 37 athletes representing displaced people around the world.
Paris saw the refugee team’s third participation in the Games, and Ngamba’s bronze medal is an inspiration to all, and as Masomah Ali Zada, Chef de Mission for the Paris 2024 Refugee Olympic Team pointed out:
She has demonstrated to the world what refugees can achieve; she has been an inspiration to a population of more than 120 million people and given light to our stories, our journeys. For that we are forever grateful.
3
An Olympic love story
Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall
One photo captured the joy and love between the athletic couple Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall. When Davis-Woodhall won gold in the women’s long jump, her husband was trackside to celebrate by her side, as shared by Team USA:
The athlete himself took to Instagram to share his delight (and great photo of the happy couple in the City of Love):
The couple has been together since 2017 when Davis-Woodhall met her husband-to-be at the track. They managed to navigate a long distance relationship while they both went to different colleges to develop their athletic careers. Woodhall attended the University of Arkansas where he made history becoming the first double-amputee to get a Division I track and field scholarship.
Woodhall, who underwent a below the knee double-amputation at the age of 11 months due to fibular hemimelia, shared with Team USA his thoughts on the couple’s success:
“I definitely don’t think either of us would be at the level we’re at without the level of support that we provide for each other, as well as the team that surrounds us. As far as the success, it’s super motivating because we do the same things every day — it’s just a vote of confidence knowing that we’re doing the right things together.”
No doubt when Woodhall performs in the upcoming Paralympics at the end of the month, his wife will be trackside once more cheering him on!
And today we celebrate...