There is much to look forward to when it comes to Arab athletes at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
A total of 14 medals have been won by Arab men at Tokyo 2020 and there is potential for more this time around.
Here are five Arab men to watch out for at Paris 2024.
Djamel Sedjati (Algeria) – Athletics
Algerian Djamel Sedjati heads to Paris in red-hot form, not only chasing gold but also firmly chasing David Rudisha's 12-year-old world record in the 800m.
In the past three weeks, Sedjati, 25, ran the third and fourth fastest 800 meters of all time, clocking 1 minute 41.56 seconds in the Diamond League stop in Paris, and then his he lowered his personal 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 every intention of emulating the Kenyan at these Olympics.
“I would like to thank everyone, especially my family and my coach. It is the fourth time I drive a world leader and the second time an Algerian record. I worked very hard for this,” Sedjati said recently in Monaco.
“Now I'm thinking about the world record, I hope to make it at the Olympics. I have two more weeks to prepare it. I will focus on that and put in the work necessary to achieve my goal.
“I will keep the training the same. My mindset is that the hard work I've put in will pay off.”
Sedjati's performance in Monaco saw him set a new national record, world leader, Diamond League record, meet record and personal best.
Will he do even better in Paris?
The men's 800m sessions begin on August 7, with the semi-finals and finals on August 9 and 10.
Ahmad Abu Al-Soud (Jordan) – Gymnastics
In Liverpool 2022, Jordan's Ahmad Abu Al-Soud won the silver medal on pommel horse to become the first Arab to reach the podium at a World Championship.
Despite a back injury that slowed his momentum, he won another World Championship medal the following year, this time bronze.
She then went on to dominate the 2024 World Cup series (winning gold in three of the four) 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 an ability named after him in the FIG Points Code, heads to Paris ranked No. 1 in the world on pommel horse and favorite for Olympic gold.
The men's artistic gymnastics qualification begins on July 27 at the Bercy Arena, with the pommel horse final scheduled for August 3.
Ramzi Boukhiam (Morocco) – Surfing
The first Moroccan or Arab surfer to qualify for the World Surf League Championship Tournament, Ramzi Boukhiam is heading to his second Olympics after competing 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 take on the majestic and equally terrifying Teahupo'o Valley.
Taghzout stand up!
Ramzi Boukhiam keeping the Moroccans on their toes and staying on his feet over a Teahupo'o technical foam ball to take the win over Kelly Slater and a place in the semi-final!@SHISEIDO_USA #TahitiPro @outerknown_live pic.twitter.com/aEOlRy8SEx
— World Surf League (@wsl) May 30, 2024
Boukhiam placed ninth in his Olympic debut in Tokyo, but Teahupo'o is much more suited to his surfing style. And the 30-year-old can draw confidence from the fact that he finished third at the very same venue in the Tahiti Pro Championship Tour just two months ago.
“I have a second chance now, going 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 really excited at the same time and I feel like if we can get good waves it can actually be an amazing, amazing event.”
Boukhiam secured his 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 begins in Tahiti on July 27th and the action will continue until July 31st.
Mutaz Barshim (Qatar) – Athletics
Qatar's Mutaz Barshim won bronze in London (which became silver nine years later), silver in Rio and gold in Tokyo.
Barshim has raised the bar higher and higher with each Olympic Games, and the star high jumper is now ready to take the leap for the last time.
“I feel like I've been here for a while, I've done it all, I've 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, one year old, told FloTrack this week after announcing that Paris would be his last Games.
“I want to be there for my family too. 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 very glad and happy about everything we've achieved together, but I feel like now it's time to give back. It's time to give back to my family.”
Barshim provided 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 instead of going through a barrier to break the tie.
They both overcame career-threatening injuries in the build-up to Tokyo and felt they both deserved to be on 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 a trip to #Paris2024. Territorial voting restrictions may apply. https://t.co/aGWb0MJuy2#Coca cola pic.twitter.com/fJilpODmkq
— The Olympics (@Olympics) July 2, 2024
Barshim and Tamberi said they would not share if they found themselves in the same situation in Paris.
The men's high jump qualification for 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 be looking to help Egypt secure their first Olympic handball medal.
The Egyptians came very 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 had 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 All-Star team honors at Tokyo 2020 – the first non-European since 1992 to achieve the feat.
Egypt have a daunting road ahead in Paris as they have landed in the same group alongside hosts and defending champions France, defending world champions Denmark, Norway, Hungary and Argentina.
“It's the Olympics. It's nothing easy. I think we have the tougher group but I think it gives us a better possibility to be in the semi-finals,” Omar said when the draw was revealed.
The Pharaohs begin their campaign against Hungary on July 27.
