A lot is expected of the Arab athletes at the Paris Olympics.
Arab men have won 14 medals at Tokyo 2020 and there is still a chance to win this time.
Here are five Arab men to watch in Paris 2024.
Djamel Sedjati (Algeria) – Athletics
Algeria's Djamel Sedjati heads to Paris in red-hot form, not only chasing gold but also determined to break David Rudisha's 12-year-old record in the 800m.
In the last three weeks, Sedjati, 25, ran the third and fourth fastest 800 meters of all time, going 1 minute, 41.56 seconds at the Diamond League meet in Paris, and then lowered his best to 1:41.46 five days later in Monaco.
Rudisha set the world record of 1:40.91 at London 2012 and Sedjati has plans to emulate the Kenyan at this Olympics.
“I thank everyone, especially my family and my coach. It's the second time I've managed the world number one and the second time the Algerian record. I worked hard for it,” said Sedjati in Monaco recently.
“Now I'm thinking about the world record, hoping to take it to the Olympics. I have two more weeks to prepare. I will focus on it and put in the necessary work to achieve my goals.
“I will keep the preparation the same. I think my hard work will pay off.”
Sedjati's performance in Monaco saw him set new national records, world leaders, Diamond League records, conference and personal bests.
Will he do better in Paris?
The men's 800 meters will start on August 7, with the semi-finals and finals on August 9 and 10.
Ahmad Abu Al-Soud (Jordan) – Gymnastics
In Liverpool in 2022, Ahmad Abu Al-Soud of Jordan won the silver medal in the pommel horse, becoming the first Arab to reach the podium at the World Championships.
Despite a lower back injury, she won another medal at the World Championships the following year, this time a bronze.
She then dominated the 2024 World Championships (winning three out of four golds) to punch her ticket to Paris and become the first Jordanian gymnast to qualify for the Olympics.
29-year-old Abu Al-Soud, who has been qualified in the FIG Code of Points, goes to Paris world No. 1 for pommel horse and favorite for gold in the Olympic Games.
The men's artistic gymnastics competition will start on July 27 at the Bercy Arena, with the pommel horse final on August 3.
Ramzi Boukhiam (Morocco) – Surfing
Ramzi Boukhiam is the first Moroccan or Arab surfer to qualify for the World Surf League Championship, Ramzi Boukhiam is heading to his second Olympics, having competed at Tokyo 2020 , when surfing made its debut.
The surfing competition at the 2024 Olympics will be held in Tahiti, where 24 men and 24 women will battle the majestic and terrifying waves of Teahupo'o.
Get up Taghzout!
Ramzi Boukhiam kept the Moroccans on their feet, and stopped with his feet on the technical ball Teahupo'o to beat Kelly Slater and a place in the semi-finals!@SHISEIDO_USA #TahitiPro @outerknown_live pic.twitter.com/aEOlRy8SEx
– World Surf League (@wsl) May 30, 2024
Boukhiam placed ninth in his Tokyo Olympics but Teahupo'o is more suited to his style of surfing. And the 30-year-old can take confidence from finishing third in the same position at the Tour Championship at the Tahiti Pro just two months ago.
“Now I have my second chance, going to Tahiti, on a wave like Teahupo'o, it's the most dangerous but perfect wave in the world,” said Boukhiam, who is the flag bearer of Morocco at Tokyo 2020, recently on the Abtal podcast.
“As a surfer, it doesn't get much better than that. You're nervous but you're really excited and I feel like if we can get a good wave it can be an amazing, amazing event. “
Boukhiam secured her spot at the 2024 Olympics by winning the silver medal at the ISA World Surfing Games in Puerto Rico in March.
The Olympic surfing competition will begin in Tahiti on July 27 and will continue until July 31.
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 at every Olympic Games and the star sprinter is poised to make his final Olympic appearance.
“I feel like I've been here for a long time, I've done everything, I've seen everything and I feel that right now it would be selfish of me to take more time with my family and loved ones, ” the 33-year-old Barshim told FloTrack this week after announcing that Paris would be his final game.
“I want to be there for my family too. 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 very happy and proud of what we've achieved together but I feel it's time to give back. It's time to bring myself back to my family.”
Barshim provided one of the most famous moments of the Tokyo Olympics when he and his Italian rival and friend Gianmarco Tamberi decided to share the gold medal instead of going to jump to break their tie.
They both overcame career-threatening injuries in the build-up to Tokyo and felt they both deserved to be on top of the podium.
Mutaz Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi shared the first step of the podium in the men's high jump at Tokyo 2020.
Pick your favorite Olympic magic moment to win a trip #Paris2024. Voting county restrictions may apply. https://t.co/aGWb0MJuy2#Coca Cola pic.twitter.com/fJIlpODmkq
— The Olympics (@Olympics) July 2, 2024
Barshim and Tamberi said there would be no sharing if they were in the same situation in Paris.
The men's category will be held on August 7 at the Stade de France, in the championship of France, on the Olympic course in Paris, with the final on 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 be looking to help Egypt win its first Olympic handball medal. .
The Egyptians came close to qualifying for the podium at Tokyo 2020, finishing fourth after losing to Spain in the bronze medal match. For the first time, an African team made it far in handball at the Olympics.
The 26-year-old right-back was a key part of this Olympic team, where he was awarded the Tokyo 2020 All-star team – the first non-European since 1992 to do so.
Egypt have a daunting route to Paris as they are drawn in the same group as hosts and champions France, world champions Denmark, Norway, Hungary and Argentina.
“It's the Olympics. Nothing is easy. I think we have a more difficult group, but I think it gives us a better chance in the semi-finals,” Omar said when the draw was announced.
The Pharaoh began his campaign against Hungary on July 27.
