Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour shattered records and expectations at the Paris Games on Sunday, becoming the first African gymnast to clinch an Olympic medal. The 17-year-old stunned the crowd at Bercy Arena with a gold-winning routine on the asymmetric bars, securing a historic victory.
Nemour’s electrifying performance, marked by complex release-and-catch maneuvers, captivated the audience. As she nailed her dismount, the arena erupted with applause. Overcome with emotion, Nemour broke down in tears, realizing she had delivered Algeria its first medal of the Paris Olympics with an impressive score of 15.700 points.
“I can’t believe this has happened,” an astonished Nemour remarked after claiming her first gold medal at a major global event. “This is too much. I have no words.”
Nemour’s journey to gold wasn’t without drama. She performed after China’s Qiu Qiyuan, who had temporarily taken the lead with a score of 15.500. “When I saw her score, I knew I had to give it my all,” Nemour said. “I refocused and delivered the best performance of my life at just the right moment.”
The Algerian Olympic Committee hailed Nemour as a legend, stating, “You showed the world the strength and determination of Algeria with your wonderful victory.”
This victory marks Algeria’s sixth Olympic gold since its debut in Tokyo in 1964 and the first since Taoufik Makhloufi’s win in the men’s 1500m at London 2012.
Nemour, born in Saint-Benoît-la-Forêt, France, previously made history as the first African gymnast to win a world championship medal, taking silver in the uneven bars in Antwerp last year. She surpassed that achievement in Paris, with Qiu Qiyuan of China, the reigning world champion, taking silver and American Sunisa Lee earning bronze. Belgium’s Nina Derwael, the defending Olympic champion, finished just off the podium in fourth place.
After a dispute with France’s gymnastics federation over her return from a knee injury, Nemour switched to represent Algeria, her father’s homeland, last year.
The Paris Games’ final artistic gymnastics events are set for Monday, featuring the men’s parallel and horizontal bar finals, along with the women’s balance beam and floor exercise.
Also, African-American Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast of all time, will be vying for two more golds to add to her tally of three in Paris.
