As the curtain fell on the Paris 2024 Olympics, the collective Arab world can look back with pride on its medal haul, and two weeks well spent. A total of 17 medals were won by Arab athletes – one shy of the region’s best-ever showing in Tokyo 2020.
Of the 17 medals won, seven of which were gold, four were silver and six bronze. The medals were spread out across athletes from seven different countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar and Tunisia.
Of those countries, it was Bahrain who had the highest number of athletes who won medals, securing four in total—two gold, one silver, and a bronze.
Algeria had the second highest medal tally with three medals two gold and one bronze, followed by Morocco who registered one gold and a bronze medal.
Egypt and Tunisia both earned a trio of medals – gold, silver, and bronze per country respectively, while Jordan and Qatar each brought home one medal each. A silver for Jordan in Taekwondo, and a bronze for Qatari icon Mutaz Barshim in the high-jump.
The region’s gold medal-winning athletes include Algerian boxer Imane Khelif who won the women’s welterweight competition, and her countrywoman Kaylia Nemour who topped the podium in gymnastics’ Uneven Bars event.
Bahrain’s impressive medal haul was topped by the women’s 3,000m Steeplechase winner Winfred Yavi (who set an Olympic Record time); and Akhmed Tazhudinov who won the men’s 97kg freestyle wrestling event.
There was history for both Morocco and Egypt at the games for two different reasons. Firstly Moroccan distance-running icon Soufiane El Bakkali retaining his 3,000m Steeplechase title, and then Ahmed Elgendy, who became the first Arab (and African) athlete to win gold in the Modern Pentathlon with a World Record setting performance.
Rounding off the gold rush was Firas Katoussi of Tunisia, who let his feet do the talking on the way to Olympic gold in the 80kg Taekwondo.
Here’s a full list of all the Arab athletes who won medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics:
Gold medal winners
- Soufiane El Bakkali (MOR) – Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase Athletics
- Firas Katoussi (TUN) – Men’s Taekwondo 80kg
- Ahmed Elgendy (EGY) – Men’s Modern Pentathlon
- Akhmed Tazhudinov (BAH) – Men’s Wrestling 97kg
- Winfred Yavi (BAH) – Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase Athletics
- Kaylia Nemour (ALG) – Women’s Uneven Bars Gymnastics
- Imane Khelif (ALG) – Women’s Welterweight Boxing
Silver medal winners
- Fares Ferjani (TUN) – Men’s Individual Sabre·Fencing
- Salwa Eid Naser (BAH) – Women’s 400m Athletics
- Zaid Kareem (JOR) – Men’s Taekwondo 68kg
- Sara Ahmad (EGY) – Women’s Weightlifting 81kg
Bronze medal winners
- Morocco – Men’s Football
- Mohamed El-Sayed (EGY) – Men’s Fencing épée
- Gor Minasyan (BAH) – Men’s Weightlifting Superheaviweight
- Mutaz Barshim (QAT) – Men’s High Jump Athletics
- Djamel Sedjati (ALG) – Men’s 800m Athletics
- Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi (TUN) – Men’s Taekwondo 58kg